Welcome to the research website for Leah Witus, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Macalester College. 

We are doing research at the intersection of chemistry and biology focused on protein-mimetic materials.
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If you are a Macalester student interested in getting involved in this research, please get in touch.

In 2020, during the pause in typical research activities, Leah started making science explainer videos for kids and adults. The series, called 'Preschool PhD' can be found on YouTube.

Recent news from our group:

• Our publication on tetrapeptide aldol catalysts is out in ACS Omega, led by the work of Albert Liu (now @UCB_Chemistry) as well as Gene Glover and Lisa Luo, Xavier Calicdan, Gage Barroso (now @MichiganChem), Brooke Hoope (now at Mass General Hospital), and colleague Prof Kelsey Boyle – a great team to work with!
• Prof Witus and Larson's study on the effect of vaccine educational videos on increasing vaccination intention is out in PLOS ONE – press on this work can be found here: Macalester, Brief19, The New York Times, Research Corporation for Science Advancement, KARE11 
• (for more, see the Research and News tab)