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S. (Syuzanna) Harutyunyan, Prof

Professor of Homogeneous Catalysis

Syuzanna R. Harutyunyan is currently is currently Full Professor in Homogeneous Catalysis at the University of Groningen. Before joining the University of Groningen to occupy a tenure-track position, she carried out research in Armenia, Russia, Poland, Belgium, and in the Netherlands. She worked for two years at Tibotec-JanssenPharmaceutica-J&J (Belgium). The research was focused on the development of new patent-free metathesis catalysts, for synthesis of an anti-hepatitis drug and the implementation of new procedures to scale up production. During her post-doctoral with Prof. Ben Feringa (Netherlands) her research led to the discovery of the first enantioselective catalytic methodologies using Grignard reagents, and revealed the mechanisms of these reactions and application of these methodologies in total synthesis of natural products. As a visiting scientist in the group of Prof. K. Grela (Poland) she worked on the synthesis and the application of metathesis catalysts. In particular, she developed highly efficient ruthenium catalysts for metathesis, highly reactive alternatives to the well-known Grubbs catalysts. During her PhD research under supervision of Prof. Yu. N. Belokon (Russia) she developed new strategies for enantioselective synthesis of amino acids in phase-transfer-conditions. The developed methodologies have been applied for PET diagnostics. Syuzanna obtained her masters degree in pharmacology at Yerevan State University with Prof. A. Saghian. 

Syuzanna's work has been recognized by a recent major award from the Royal Dutch Chemical Society, the KNCV Gold Medal 2016Homogeneous catalysis award 2017 from RCS and the Solvias Ligand Contest in 2011.

  • Full professor at Stratingh institute for Chemistry (since 2018)
    (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
  • Associate professor at Stratingh institute for Chemistry (since 2013)
    (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
  • Assistant professor at Stratingh institute for Chemistry (2010-2013)
    (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
  • Senior scientist in Johnson&Johnson-Tibotec-Janssen Pharmaceutica (2007-2009)
    (Beerse, Belgium)
  • PostDoctoral research with Prof. Feringa (2003-2007)
    (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
  • PhD in Organic and organometallic chemistry with Prof. Belokon (2003)
    (INEOS, Moscow, Russia)
  • Medical representative at Hoffmann-La Roche (2000)
    (Armenia)
  • MSc in Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical chemistry with Prof. Saghian (1999)
    (Yerevan State University, Armenia)
Last modified:25 June 2022 12.57 p.m.