College of Natural Sciences Alumni Spotlight: Joseph Carpenter
Posted: February 10, 2025 | Author: Southern Utah University | Read Time: 2 minutes
Dr. Joseph Carpenter is an SUU College of Natural Sciences alumnus who is making waves in the medicinal chemistry world. Dr. Carpenter earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Summa Cum Laude) from SUU in spring 2005. He then studied organic chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) before completing his PhD in Organic Chemistry at Princeton University in 2010.
Dr. Carpenter’s graduate work focused on developing new synthesis techniques and applications of asymmetric organocatalysis in complex natural product total synthesis. At Princeton, he worked in the laboratory of Professor David W.C. MacMillan, who later received the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Essentially, the team worked to discover new ways to synthesize molecules of biological relevance that may have useful applications.
After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Carpenter joined Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in 2010 as a medicinal chemist. There he worked on several drug discovery programs, particularly in the areas of obesity, metabolic disease, and fibrosis. In 2019, he joined Recursion, a global digital biology company headquartered in Salt Lake City, where he currently serves as Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry. Recursion combines cutting-edge artificial intelligence, advanced machine learning, and high-content cellular imaging to revolutionize drug discovery. Throughout his career, Dr. Carpenter has been fortunate to have contributed to the development of multiple drug candidates, some of which advanced to clinical trials. He is also an inventor on several patents, including for drugs currently in clinical trials.
Dr. Carpenter credits several SUU chemistry faculty for fostering his interest in medicinal chemistry and shaping his academic and professional goals. He says that Professor Ty Redd was the faculty member who had the most significant impact on him during his time at SUU. Dr. Redd’s mentorship in Organic Chemistry, as well as his guidance as an undergraduate research mentor, was instrumental in Dr. Carpenter's development as a scientist. Dr. Redd’s passion for teaching and his ability to challenge and inspire his students left an indelible mark on young Carpenter.
Working in the Water Quality Lab with Dr. Kim Weaver was another notable developmental experience. The water lab provided Dr. Carpenter with hands-on exposure to advanced scientific techniques and gave him an appreciation for how chemistry could address real-world challenges. Additionally, through the support of the chemistry department leadership, he secured a prestigious summer research internship at Texas A&M University. “These foundational experiences at SUU cultivated my interest in understanding complex chemical and biological systems, furthering my interest in pursuing a career in drug discovery,” Dr. Carpenter shared.
Outside of the laboratory, this award-winning chemist and researcher is a husband, father, athlete, and coach. He and his high school sweetheart-turned-wife, Shannon, have two daughters, McKenna and Dylan, and together they enjoy camping, snowboarding, and off-road trail adventures.
We in the College of Natural Sciences are certainly proud of Dr. Carpenter and his many personal and scientific accomplishments. T-Birds clearly can go anywhere, because SUU is where you learn to soar.
Tags: College of Natural Sciences Career and Professional Development CurStu Chemistry
