Kaibo completed his undergraduate education at Nanjing University. After receiving his B.S. in 2013, he pursued his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Prof. M. Christina White’s research group. During his time at Illinois, he developed strategies enabling the late-stage incorporation of hydroxyl, amino, and methyl groups into nitrogen-containing molecules with small-molecule base-metal catalysts. His thesis research was recognized by the 2021 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists and the ACS P3 Medal for Graduate Research Excellence. Kaibo obtained his Ph.D. in 2020 and subsequently joined the group of Prof. Stephen L. Buchwald at MIT as a postdoctoral associate. His research at MIT focused on developing new strategies and catalysts for the amination of coordinating heteroaryl halides. Kaibo started his independent career at the University of Florida in the fall of 2024 as an assistant professor, focusing on the development of synthetic methods, transition-metal catalysis, and late-stage diversification. Some of his other interests include choral singing, song writing, photography, and musicals.

Honors and Awards

2022 ACS P3 Medal for Graduate Research Excellence
2021 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists
2020 Reaxys PhD Prize Finalist
2017 R.C. Fuson Travel Award
2016 Terry Balthazor Poster Award
2015 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (Outstanding)
2014 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (Outstanding)
2013 List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students
2009 Silver Medalist, Chinese Chemistry Olympiad