MIT-Harvard Inorganic Chemistry Seminar: Dr.Nora S. Radu, Qnity Electronics

From Catalysis to Advanced Electronics: A Journey in Industrial Chemistry Abstract: My career in industrial chemistry has taken me through several different areas of research, from design of organometallic catalysts for nylon intermediates to the development of materials for OLED displays, flexible electronics, and advanced semiconductor packaging. In this talk, I will share selected examples from that journey, highlighting how molecular design, fundamental chemistry, and structure-property relationships were used to address challenging materials problems and develop practical technologies. Bio:Nora S. Radu, Ph.D., is a Senior Technical Fellow at Qnity Electronics, Inc. with nearly three decades of experience developing advanced materials for electronics. She began her DuPont career in 1998, working on catalysts for nylon intermediates before transitioning to OLED materials, where she developed materials for next-generation displays. Her more recent work at DuPont and now Qnity has focused on polyimides and dielectric materials for advanced electronics, including flexible displays and advanced semiconductor packaging. Her research has contributed to multigenerational materials platforms supporting high-performance computing and AI applications. Over her industrial career, she has been an inventor on more than 60 granted patents. Nora is an ACS Fellow and received the 2025 ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry for her accomplishments in industrial chemistry and leadership in the inorganic chemistry community. She was the first industrial scientist to receive the award in its more than 60-year history. She has held numerous leadership roles in the inorganic and organometallic chemistry communities, including serving as Chair of the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry, chairing the Gordon Research Conference on Organometallic Chemistry, and initiating the Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar on Organometallic Chemistry.