Byron Farnum, PhD
bhf0003@auburn.edu
257 Chemistry Building
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Short Bio
Byron is originally from Camden, South Carolina, and received his BS in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina in 2008, working with John Ferry on metal oxide photocatalysts for environmental remediation. He then earned his PhD in Chemistry in the research group of Jerry Meyer at Johns Hopkins University in 2012 before joining the group of Thomas J. Meyer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a postdoctoral research associate.
In 2016, Byron joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University as an assistant professor. In 2022, he was promoted to associate professor with tenure. He currently holds the title of Lloyd and Sandra Nix Associate Professor in Chemistry.
Education
PhD Johns Hopkins University 2012
MA Johns Hopkins University 2010
BS University of South Carolina 2008
Professional Experience
| Lloyd and Sandra Nix Associate Professor, Auburn University | 2025-present |
| Associate Professor, Auburn University | 2022-present |
| Assistant Professor, Auburn University | 2016-2022 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of North Carolina | 2012-2016 |
Innovation
The Farnum lab is interested in inorganic and physical chemistry, with emphases in solar energy conversion and electrochemical energy storage. At the heart of these applications is the goal of better understanding how inorganic structure impacts electron transfer reactions.
Honors and Awards
- COSAM Dean's Faculty Research Award, 2025
- NSF CAREER Award, 2020
- UNC Postdoctoral Award for Research Excellence, 2015
- Perkin Medal Scholarship, 2011
- Johns Hopkins University Chemistry Alumni Graduate Fellowship, 2011
Extra Content #2 Title
- Hossain, M.M.; Farnum, B.H. "Mechanism Guided Two-Electron Energy Storage for Redox-Flow Batteries using Nickel Bis(diphosphine) Complexes." Chem. Commun. 2025, 61, 3347-3350. DOI: 10.1039/D4CC06547F
- Farnum, B.H.; Goldsmith, C.R. "Use of Intramolecular Quinol Redox Shuttles to Facilitate the Catalytic Transformation of O2 and O2-Derived Species." Acc. Chem. Res. 2024, 58, 101-112. DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00645
- Obisesan, S.V.; Rose, C.; Farnum, B.H.; Goldsmith, C.R. "Co(II) Complex with a Covalently Attached Pendant Quinol Selectively Reduces O2 to H2O." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 22826-22830. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08315
- Mazumder, M.M.R.; Dalpati, N.; Pokkuluri, P.R.; Farnum, B.H. "Zinc-Catalyzed Two-Electron Nickel(IV/II) Redox Couple for Multi-Electron Energy Storage in Redox Flow Batteries." Inorg. Chem. 2022, 61, 19039-19048. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c03124
- Bredar, A.R.C.; Chown, A.L.; Burton, A.R.; Farnum, B.H. "Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Metal Oxide Electrodes for Energy Applications." ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2020, 3, 66-98. DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.9b01965
