Professor Renee Frontiera named Distinguished McKnight University Professor

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (04/17/2026) – Department of Chemistry Professor Renee Frontiera has been awarded the Distinguished McKnight University Professorship. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to research and leadership by faculty recently promoted to full professor.

Research in Frontiera's lab is focused on developing and applying Raman spectroscopic techniques to determine how nanoscale local environments impact chemical reaction dynamics. The group’s research is highly interdisciplinary, investigating current problems at the interface of chemistry, biology, and materials science. The work has produced more than 75 peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognized journals. 

When she’s not in the lab, Frontiera currently serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for Chemical Physics, through which she helps shape the future of the Chemical Physics PhD program. She also performs as a presenter in the annual Energy & U outreach show, an explosive chemistry performance that brings more than 5,000 metro-area elementary school students to campus each year.

Frontiera's award comes on the heels of her recent naming as the inaugural W. Ronald Gentry Chair of Physical Chemistry. Explore the story to learn more about Prof. Frontiera, her research program, and recent chair title.

Frontiera is one of four College of Science and Engineering faculty members to receive a 2025 Distinguished McKnight University Professorship, among 14 total recipients across the University of Minnesota. Recipients are chosen based on merit, research accomplishments, and leadership activities, among other factors. Each faculty member will receive a research grant of $120,000 over five years, to be used for expenditures related to the recipient’s research and scholarly activities. They will also maintain the title of “Distinguished McKnight University Professor” for as long as they remain at the University.