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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Florida
Faculty Member UF Department of Chemistry

UF Department of Chemistry

Chemistry Laboratory Building

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Cole C. Sorensen

Assistant Professor

Sorensen Lab Website (new site coming soon!)

Research Focus

The Sorensen group leverages biocatalysis to change the way we approach polymer synthesis, modification, and deconstruction. Our research combines principles from organic chemistry, polymer science, and molecular biology to engineer enzymes with enhanced reactivity and selectivity using directed evolution and de novo design—leading to macromolecules with tailored function. Project directions in the group span small molecule synthesis, polymer chemistry, photocatalysis, and computational biology with consequences in sustainability, macromolecular retrosynthesis, and medicine. The interdisciplinary nature of the Sorensen group provides students with broad training within the chemical sciences while emphasizing scientific communication, creativity, and design.

Education and Training

2024–2026: NIH-NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University, Berkeley (lab of Prof. Todd Hyster)

2019–2024: Ph.D. Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (lab of Prof. Frank Leibfarth)

2015–2019:B.S. Nanoscience, Virginia Tech (lab of Prof. Johan Foster)

Selected Awards

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (2026)

BioLEC Distinguished Postdoctoral Researcher (2024–2026)

Dean’s Distinguished Dissertation Award in the areas of Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering (2024)

PMSE Centennial: Future Leaders of Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering (2024)

Selected Activities

BioLEC Early Career Advisory Council (2024–2025)

Selected Publications

Kozuszek, C. T.; Sorensen, C., C.; Leibfarth, F. A. Understanding and Enhancing Stereoselective Polymerization using a Data Science Approach. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 45914–45923.

Yeo, H.‡; Sorensen, C., C.‡; Tahir, H.‡; Marquardt, A.; Yang, Y.; Legaux, N.; Savoie, B.; Leibfarth, F.; Boudouris, B. Stereoregular Radical Polymers Enable Selective Spin Transfer. Sci. Adv., 2025, 11, eadr4004.

Sorensen, C., C.; Leibfarth, F. A. Stereoselective Helix-Sense-Selective Cationic Polymerization of N-Vinylcarbazole Using Chiral Lewis Acid Catalysis. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 8487–8492.