Professor Malika Jeffries-EL

Professor Malika Jeffries-EL
Department of Chemistry and Division of Materials Science
Boston University

From the hood to the hood

African Americans make up 13% of the US population but are significantly underrepresented in STEM degrees and faculty positions. This disparity has profound implications for both individuals and the field. Dr. Malika Jeffries-EL’s journey is a testament to overcoming these barriers. Growing up in public housing in Brooklyn and attending public schools, she pursued her passion for science, earned a doctorate in chemistry, secured an academic position, and achieved tenure. Today, she serves as the Senior Associate Dean for the Graduate School in Arts and Sciences at Boston University. Dr. Jeffries- EL is a ardent advocate for diversity and a dedicated volunteer, actively contributing to the American Chemical Society, including her current role on the Board of Directors. In her upcoming talk, she will share her personal experiences, discuss current trends, address pipeline issues, and propose solutions to inspire and empower others to pursue their dreams in STEM.

Malika Jeffries-EL

Malika Jeffries-EL received BA degrees in Chemistry and Africana Studies from Wellesley College, as well as M. Phil and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry from George Washington University.She worked as a post-doctoral researcher under Professor Richard D. McCullough at Carnegie Mellon University. In 2005, she joined the faculty in the Chemistry Department at Iowa State University and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2012. In 2015, she was a Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professor in the Chemistry Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She joined the Department of Chemistry and Division of Materials Science at Boston University in 2016 and was promoted to Professor in 2022. Since July 2020, she has served as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School in Arts and Sciences. 

Dr. Jeffries-EL’s research focuses on developing organic semiconductors–materials that combine the processing properties of polymers with the electronic properties of semiconductors. She has authored over 50 publications and delivered more than 200 lectures both domestically and internationally. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2023), and the American Chemical Society (ACS) (2018). She has received numerous awards, including the Robert Holland Jr. Award from Research Corporation (2023), the Percy Julian Award from the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) (2021), and the ACS Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences (2015). Currently, she serves as an Associate Editor for the RSC flagship journal Chemical Science. Professor EL is also a strong advocate for diversity and a dedicated volunteer involved in various initiatives within the American Chemical Society. Additionally, she is a science communicator who aims to inspire students from underrepresented groups to pursue STEM degrees and recently appeared in the NOVA series Beyond the Elements. She contributes to the community through her work with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Dr. Jeffries-EL is a native of Brooklyn, New York.

Hosted by Professor Timothy Lodge

Learn more about the Jeannette Brown Lectureship

The 2025 Jeannette Brown Lectureship is generously supported by the Sherwin-Williams Company.