Christian Goldsmith, PhD

Christian Goldsmith, PhD

  • J. Milton Harris Professor of Chemistry
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry
    • crg0005@auburn.edu
    371 Chemistry Building
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    Goldsmith Research Group Website
    Chris Goldsmith's research focuses on developing redox-active coordination complexes that can be used as sensors or catalysts. Current projects include the synthesis and characterization of redox-responsive MRI contrast agents, functional mimics of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes, and electrocatalysts for the reduction of dioxygen to water.

    Education

    • AB Harvard University 1998

    • PhD Stanford University 2004

    Professional Experience

    J. Milton Harris Professor, Auburn University (2024-present)

    Professor, Auburn University (2021-present)

    Associate Professor, Auburn University (2013-2021)

    Assistant Professor, University (2007-2013)

    NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2004-2007)

    Recent Publications

    1. Karbalaei, S.; Franke, A.; Zahl, A.; Pokkuluri, P. R.; Beyers, R. J.; Ivanović-Burmazović, I.; Goldsmith, C. R.* “An Fe(II) Complex Detects Hydrogen Peroxide with 1H and 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reponses.” Chem. Comm. 2025, 61, 15898-15901.
    2. Boothe, R.; Oppelt, J.; Franke, A.; Moore, J. L.; Squarcina, A.; Zahl, A.; Senft, L.; Kellner, I.; Awalah, A. L.; Bradford, A.; Obisesan, S. V.; Schwartz, D. D.; Ivanović-Burmazović, I.;* Goldsmith, C. R.* “Nickel(II) Complexes with Covalently Attached Quinols Rely on Ligand-Derived Redox Couples to Catalyze Superoxide Dismutation.” Dalton Trans. 2025, 54, 3733-3749.
    3. Farnum, B. H.;* Goldsmith, C. R.* “Use of Intramolecular Quinol Redox Couples to Facilitate the Catalytic Transformation of O2 and O2-Derived Species.” Acc. Chem. Res. 2025, 58, 101-112.
    4. Obisesan, S. V.; Parvin, M.; Tao, M.; Ramos, E.; Saunders, A. C.; Farnum, B. H.;* Goldsmith, C. R.* “Installing Quinol Proton/Electron Mediators onto Non-Heme Iron Complexes Enables them to Electrocatalytically Reduce O2 to H2O at High Rates and Low Overpotentials.” Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63, 14126-14141.
    5. Miliordos, E.*; Moore, J. L.; Obisesan, S. V.; Oppelt, J.; Ivanović-Burmazović, I.; Goldsmith, C. R.* “Computational Analysis of the Superoxide Dismutase Mimicry Exhibited by a Zinc(II) Complex with a Redox-Active Organic Ligand.” J. Phys. Chem. A 2024, 128, 1491-1500.
    6. Karbalaei, S.; Franke, A.; Oppelt, J.; Aziz, T.; Jordan, A.; Pokkuluri, P. R.; Schwartz, D. D.; Ivanović-Burmazović, I.; Goldsmith, C. R.* “A Macrocyclic Quinol-Containing Ligand Enables High Catalase Activity even with a Redox-Inactive Metal at the Expense of the Ability to Mimic Superoxide Dismutase.” Chem. Sci. 2023, 14, 9910–9922.
    7. Obisesan, S. V.; Rose, C.; Farnum, B. H.; Goldsmith, C. R.* “A Co(II) Complex with a Covalently Attached Pendent Quinol Selectively Reduces O2 to H2O.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 22826-22830.
    8. Moore, J. L.; Oppelt, J.; Senft, L.; Franke, A.; Scheitler, A.; Dukes, M. W.; Alix, H. B.; Saunders, A. C; Karbalaei, S.; Schwartz, D. D.; Ivanović-Burmazović, I.*; Goldsmith, C. R.* “Diquinol Functionality Boosts the Superoxide Dismutase Mimicry of a Zn(II) Complex with a Redox-Active Ligand while Maintaining Catalyst Stability and Enhanced Activity in Phosphate Solution.” Inorg. Chem. 2022, 61, 19983-19997.

    Honors and Awards

    Provost’s Excellence in Assessment  Award (2024)

    COSAM Young Faculty Award (2023)

    Named as top reviewer for Dalton Transactions (2023)

    Named as top reviewer for Inorganic Chemistry (2021)

    Outstanding COSAM Advisor Award (2018)