The fifth Houk Research Conference (HRC) brought together leading computational and experimental chemists from around the world to celebrate the remarkable scientific legacy of Distinguished Research Professor Kendall N. Houk. Hosted by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Chemistry, the 2026 conference highlighted Houk’s enduring impact on generations of researchers and the continued evolution of the field he helped shape.
Held under the theme “Bridging Computation, Experiment, and Data,” the three-day meeting welcomed 120 participants from 47 universities, research institutions, and companies. The program featured 20 invited lectures from leaders in physical organic chemistry, catalysis, and machine learning, as well as 54 poster presentations showcasing cutting-edge research by graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduate researchers. A featured panel discussion, “AI for Research & Education,” explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in physical organic chemistry and chemical education.
The conference also served as a powerful testament to Houk’s extraordinary influence as a mentor. Nearly all of the invited speakers who appeared in the conference’s featured speaker lineup trained directly in the Houk laboratory, either as graduate students or postdoctoral scholars. Today, they hold faculty positions at leading universities across the United States, Europe, and Asia, where they continue advancing research in computational chemistry, catalysis, and chemical theory while mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Among the invited speakers were former UCLA graduate students Paul Cheong, Dan Ess, Fang Liu, Peng Liu, Steven Lopez, Dean Tantillo, Zhongyue (John) Yang, and Peiyuan Yu, along with former UCLA postdoctoral scholars Març Garcia-Borràs, Seonah Kim, Robert Paton, Maren Podewitz, Thomas Strassner, Dennis Svatunek, Olaf Wiest, Xiao-Song Xue, and Zhi-Xiang Yu. Also participating was Osvaldo Gutierrez, the Stoddart Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UCLA, who previously trained in the Houk group as both an undergraduate and master’s student. Several longtime collaborators and colleagues also delivered invited lectures.
The conference was co-organized by Houk alumni Peng Liu, professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, and Zhongyue (John) Yang, associate professor of chemistry at Vanderbilt University, underscoring the continued leadership of former Houk group members throughout the field.
The Houk research group has produced an exceptional network of scientific leaders over the course of Houk’s career. During appointments at Louisiana State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and UCLA, Houk has mentored 121 Ph.D. students and 105 postdoctoral scholars from 33 countries. Of those former trainees, 121 have gone on to become university professors in 20 countries, including 45 faculty members in the United States, illustrating the global reach of his mentorship and scholarship.
Several current members of the Houk laboratory also attended the conference, including postdoctoral scholars Ching Ching Lam, Kay Xia, and Shuyao Zhou, along with graduate researchers Aris Rubio, Alex Maertens, Jingran Shan, Junfeng Liu, and Zuwei Wang.
In addition to the scientific program, attendees participated in networking events including an opening reception at the Chevron Science Center and a Three Rivers cruise aboard Pittsburgh’s Gateway Clipper Fleet.
Now in its fifth installment, the Houk Research Conference continues to recognize not only Houk’s pioneering contributions to computational organic chemistry, but also the lasting influence of his mentorship. The success of his former students and postdoctoral scholars—and their own contributions to science and education around the world—reflects a legacy that extends far beyond any single discovery.
“I feel so happy and lucky to meet so many excellent researchers and learn new knowledge,” said Dr. Shuyao Zhou. “I feel more possibilities of using theoretical simulation methods to solve chemical problems in the future. Many thanks for this opportunity, and I look forward to the next conference held in my hometown Nanjing in the next year.”
Many thanks to Dr. Shuyao Zhou for providing photos from the event.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
