Jihye Park joins Department of Chemistry faculty
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (9/25/2025) – Dr. Jihye Park will join the Department of Chemistry faculty in January 2026. The department is thrilled to welcome Park as an Associate Professor.
Park will join the University of Minnesota from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she is currently an Assistant Professor. Her prior experience also includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University and a PhD in chemistry from Texas A&M University. Park comes to UMN with a strong background in inorganic chemistry, nanomaterials, physical organic chemistry, and renewable energy.
Her research focuses on the design and synthesis of electrically conductive metal–organic frameworks, crystalline materials that combine porosity and modular chemistry with tunable electronic properties. By tailoring linkers, architectures, and morphologies, Park and her research group study how structural design shapes their function. “In the near term, my team will explore mixed ionic–electronic conductor materials to tackle challenges in sustainable energy and catalysis,” she says. “UMN’s facilities and interdisciplinary environment provide the ideal setting, and I look forward to building collaborations across disciplines.”
In addition to her work in the lab, Park aims to be an engaged advisor and teacher. “I care deeply about mentoring and teaching, seeing both as ways to spark curiosity and make science approachable,” she says. “I aim to make learning interactive and relatable, whether in large organic chemistry courses or smaller research settings, and I prioritize building strong instructor–student relationships. It’s gratifying when former students reach out after graduation to share how those experiences have stayed with them!” As she anticipates her move to UMN, Park says she is looking forward to joining the University's collaborative community of researchers, having the opportunity to mentor undergraduates in the lab, and experiencing the seasons of Minnesota.
When she’s not on campus, Park enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dog, Linker. She also enjoys roasting coffee beans, trying new restaurants, and working on creative projects, such as woodworking and illustration.
We can’t wait to welcome Prof. Park to the Department of Chemistry in a few short months. In the meantime, the Chemistry community can connect with her via email at [email protected].