Professor Brian L. Pagenkopf, Department of Chemistry, Western University, runs a synthetic organic chemistry program devoted to discovering and refining useful reactions. His research emphasizes reaction discovery, methodology development, natural products synthesis, cyclopropanes, and asymmetric catalysis, with additional strengths in epoxide reactions, tetrahydrofuran synthesis, and functional materials. His mission is to mature new transformations until they become practical tools in the standard repertoire of synthetic chemistry. He supervises graduate researchers in a multidisciplinary environment and contributes to Western University’s strength in synthesis, catalysis and molecular materials.