Christy Haynes
Sustainable nanomaterials; sensor design; science communication
Background & Expertise
Christy Haynes, PhD, is the head of the Department of Chemistry and a Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota. Her highly collaborative research program focuses at the intersection of analytical and materials chemistry, particularly regarding the environmental and biological impacts of nanomaterials. Since starting her independent laboratory in 2005, 33 graduates have completed their PhDs, with 12 more currently in progress.
Her work explores sustainable nanotechnology applications, including the remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the development of nano-enabled fertilizers to enhance drought resistance and reduce crop-compromising disease. She served for 12 years as the associate director of the National Science Foundation Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology and is still an associate editor for the journal Analytical Chemistry. For her pioneering contributions, she has been recognized as a Guggenheim fellow and a Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in chemistry.
In addition to her research, Haynes is a dedicated leader and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM. She is a frequent public communicator on science, including as a featured TED speaker discussing how nanoparticles can help fight global hunger.