
Ryoji Noyori (1938-)
Organic chemist.
Director of the Institute for Molecular Science, Independent Administrative Institution, and Special Professor at Nagoya University.
Recognized for research on asymmetric synthesis reactions using ruthenium complex catalysts, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001.
Background
- Mar. 1961
- Graduated from the Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University.
- Mar. 1963
- Completed the Master’s program in the Department of Industrial Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University.
- Apr. 1963 – Jan. 1968
- Assistant at Kyoto University, Faculty of Engineering.
- Feb. 1968 – Aug. 1972
- Assistant Professor at Nagoya University, Faculty of Science.
- Jan. 1969 – Mar. 1970
- Research Fellow at Harvard University, USA.
- Aug. 1972 – Mar. 1996
- Professor at Nagoya University, Faculty of Science.
- Apr. 1979 – Mar. 1991
- Director of the Chemical Instrumentation Center at Nagoya University (concurrently).
- Oct. 1991 – Sep. 1996
- Overall Manager of the “Noyori Molecular Catalysis Project” at the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) (concurrently).
- Apr. 1992 – Mar. 1996
- Science Officer, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (concurrently).
- Sep. 1993 – Dec. 1996
- Professor at the Organic Chemistry Basic Research Center, Kyushu University (concurrently).
- Feb. 1996 – Jan. 2001
- Member of the Science Council of Japan.
- Apr. 1996 – Sep. 2003
- Professor at the Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University (due to university restructuring).
- Jan. 1997 – Dec. 1999
- Dean of the Graduate School of Science and Faculty of Science, Nagoya University (concurrently).
- Apr. 2000 – Sep. 2003
- Director of the International Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University (concurrently).
- Feb. 2001 – Jan. 2003
- Member of the Science and Technology Council, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
- Apr. 2001 – June 2003
- Academic Advisor, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
- Apr. 2002 – Sep. 2003
- Director of the Institute of Advanced Research, Nagoya University (concurrently).
- Apr. 2002
- Visiting Professor, Meijo University.
- Dec. 2002
- Member of the Japan Academy.
- Jul. 2003 – Sep. 2003
- Director of the Academic Systems Research Center, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
- Jul. 2003 – Sep. 2003
- Director of the Research and Development Strategy Center, Japan Science and Technology Agency.
- Oct. 2003 –
- President, RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research).
- Oct. 2003 – Oct. 2004
- Special Professor, Nagoya University.
- Oct. 2003 – Sep. 2004
- Honorary Director, Academic Systems Research Center, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
- Oct. 2003
- Chief Fellow, Developmental Strategic Center, Japan Science and Technology Agency.
- Oct. 2003
- Chairman, Evaluation Committee, National University Corporation.
- Oct. 2004
- Special Professor, Nagoya University.
- Feb. 2005 – Jan. 2009
- Member of the Central Education Council, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
- Feb. 2005
- Chairman, Science and Technology Council, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
- Oct. 2005 – Sep. 2008
- Member of the Japan Academy.
- Oct. 2006 – Jan. 2008
- Chairman, Education Rebuilding Council.
- May 2007
- Chief Attendant for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress on their visit to five European countries.
- Feb. 2008 – November 2009
- Member, Education Rebuilding Conference.
- Oct. 2008
- Member, Japan Academy Collaboration.
- Apr. 2009
- Chairman, Committee for Strengthening Basic Science, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
- Apr. 2009
- Chairman, Organizing Committee, 2nd HOPE Meeting of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Awards and Honors
- 1971
- Progress Award, Chemical Society of Japan.
- 1978
- Matsunaga Award.
- 1982
- Chunichi Cultural Award.
- 1985
- Chemical Society of Japan Award.
- 1988
- Taipei Prostaglandin Conference and Academia Sinica Award.
- 1989
- Naito Foundation Scientific Promotion Award;
Centenary Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK;
Fulca Prize, Switzerland. - 1990
- Teijin Scientific and Technological Award;
Merck Sharp and Dohme Chair, Belgium. - 1991
- Kirkwood Award, American Chemical Society and Yale University.
- 1993
- Asahi Prize;
Tetrahedron Prize, UK. - 1994
- Life Science Enlightenment Award.
- 1995
- Japan Academy Prize for the Study of Asymmetric Synthesis Reactions.
- 1996
- A. C. Cope Scholar Award, American Chemical Society;
Bonn Chemical Prize, Germany. - 1997
- A. C. Cope Award, American Chemical Society;
Chirality Medal, Chirality Recognition International Conference;
G. Kenner Award, University of Liverpool, UK. - 1999
- King Faisal International Prize, Saudi Arabia;
C.S. Hamilton Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA. - 2000
- Citation Laureate (Chemistry), ISI-Thomson Scientific.
- 2001
- Special Award of the Society of Organic Synthesis Chemistry;
Wolf Prize, Israel;
R. Adams Award, American Chemical Society;
Highly Cited Researcher (Chemistry), ISI-Thomson Scientific;
Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Sweden. - 2002
- L. Sacconi Medal, Italian Chemical Society and Sacconi Foundation.
- 2003
- Gold Medal, Science Partnership Foundation, Russia.
- 2006
- Special Award for Molecular Chirality, Molecular Chirality Research Institute;
A. Avogadro Gold Medal, Italian Chemical Society. - 2009
- Centenary Medal, Royal Society of Canada.
- 2010
- Lomonosov Gold Medal, Russian Academy of Sciences;
Burton Gold Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK.
Awards and Honors
- 1998
- Cultural Merit Award.
- 2000
- Order of Culture.
- 2001
- Special Commendation, Chemical Society of Japan;
Aichi Prefecture Academic Award;
Nagoya University Academic Award. - 2002
- Letter of Appreciation from the House of Representatives;
Letter of Appreciation from the House of Councillors;
Letter of Appreciation and Trophy from the Prime Minister;
Nagoya City Academic Commendation;
Honorary Citizen of Nisshin City.
Principal Research Topics and Achievements
・Development of catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation reactions.
・Development of BINAP.
・Realization of large-scale production of menthol.
References