Dr. Jules Moutet – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

​I am a French chemist imported on US soil with a deep interest in research from macro- to micro- scopic scale. During my scientific career, I had the chance to be educated in different complementary fields of life sciences. This has allowed me to develop a constant curiosity for the complex mechanisms at work in living being as well as the deep laws governing matter.

In 2014 this appetence for knowledge led me to pursue a PhD in France at the University of Grenoble Alpes with the Dr. Nicolas Leconte, where my thesis encompassed research at the interface between organic and inorganic chemistry. The multidisciplinarity approach that I took, based on links between various fields such as biology, analytical chemistry and catalysis resulted in the development of bio-inspired oxidation catalysts. In parallel, I have also developed stable radical complexes of transition metals, the novelty of which has led me to sharpen my skills in characterizing transient and exotic chemical species.

The pressing environmental crisis facing humanity drove me to join the research group of Pr. Greg Nocton at École Polytechnique in Paris during 2018. As a post-doctoral researcher, I was involved in the development of a project for the reprocessing and valorization of polluting gases from human activity (CO, CO2, CH4). Catalysts using the specific characteristics of the f-elements (lanthanides) of the periodic table and their synergy with abundant transition metals have been published. In order to improve my team management skills, I was in charge of the supervision of the facilities as well as of the PhD and Master students. The confidence and trust of this mentor led me to develop on my own a molecular qubit topic for quantum computing via a more physical approach to my research and resulted in the report of the first Single Molecule Magnet of divalent Thulium.

The imperative need to decrease the human impact on our planet and to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, decarbonized and more ethical economy brought me to the University of Arizona in January 2020 as a post-doctoral research assistant in Prof. Thomas L. Gianetti's group. Since then, I have been actively involved in the laboratory's research on the development of organic photocatalysts capable of synthesizing active drug compounds without toxic metals and with high chemical compatibility. A significant part of my time is dedicated to training graduate students, managing the crucial equipment of the laboratory and writing grant proposals. On a more entrepreneurial side, I have also developed an innovative and competitive electrochemical energy storage project, which has resulted in publications and several patents as well as the co-founding of the company CarbeniumTec LLC. Our fully organic symmetrical redox flow battery approach has already produced promising results by overcoming the geostrategic metals and toxicity risks associated with electrochemical storage.
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Beyond research, through my various professional experiences, I desire to bring high standards of caring, mentoring and safety in the work environment. I strongly believe that science quality requires an increased focus on inclusiveness and diversity in higher education. The transmission of knowledge and the accompaniment in the educational process are for me priorities to succeed in training the researchers and teachers of tomorrow. I hope that my dynamism, my unceasing curiosity, and the network I have built will favor multidisciplinary collaborations. Interactions with international research groups will contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and increase the visibility of chemistry at the University of Arizona.
In an effort to balance my life with the intensity of my research work and the position of Chief Technical Officer at CarbeniumTec LLC, I enjoy the time I can devote to my hobbies such as motorcycling, hiking (inlove with Mt. Lemon) and being a dog, plants dad. If the sustainable redox flow battery project speaks to you visit our site (https://www.carbeniumtec.com/) and if you want to discuss science find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jules-moutet-aab84141/).

Dr. Jules Moutet received the Honorable Mention for the 2022 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award.