Marcus H. Sak
Education
Harvard University
Aug 2021–May 2026Ph.D., Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Advisor: Eric N. Jacobsen • Thesis: Enzymatic Principles in Selective Small-Molecule Catalysis
Yale University
2017–2021B.S./M.S. in Chemistry
Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa • GPA: 3.98/4.00
Research Experience
Merck & Co., Inc.
Feb–June 2025Visiting Scientist, Process R&D Enabling Technologies
High-throughput and automated experimentation for combinatorial screening
Yale University
Jan 2018–May 2021Advisor: Scott J. Miller
Peptide-catalyzed enantioselective reactions and associated mechanistic/computational studies
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen
May–Jul 2019Advisor: Peter R. Schreiner
Synthesis, computational studies, and matrix isolation of minimal mercaptocarbenes
National University of Singapore
Jun 2015–Jul 2016Advisor: Yixin Lu
Asymmetric phosphine catalysis of [3 + 2] and [3 + 3] cycloadditions
Publications
- Sak, M. H.†; Jiang, Y.†; Jacobsen, E. N.; Liu, R. Y. Dual-Ligand System for Mild Decarbonylative Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling of Aroyl Chlorides. ACS Catal. 2026, DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5c08167.
- Sak, M. H.; Liu, R. Y.; Kwan, E. E.; Jacobsen, E. N. Accelerating the Discovery of Cooperative Catalysis. Nature 2025, 648, 333.
- Sak, M. H.; Jacobsen, E. N. Selective Noncovalent Catalysis with Small Molecules. Chem. Rev. 2025, 125, 8319.
- Sak, M. H.†; Lovinger, G. J.†; Jacobsen, E. N. Catalysis of An SN2 Pathway by Geometric Preorganization. Nature 2024, 632, 1052.
- Turek, A. K.; Sak, M. H.; Miller, S. J. Kinetic Analysis of a Cysteine-Derived Thiyl-Catalyzed Asymmetric Vinylcyclopropane Cycloaddition Reflects Numerous Attractive Noncovalent Interactions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 16173.
- Chan, Y.-C.; Sak, M. H.; Frank, S. A.; Miller, S. J. Tunable and Cooperative Catalysis for Enantioselective Pictet-Spengler Reaction with Varied Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Carboxaldehydes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 24573.
- Coombs, G.; Sak, M. H.; Miller, S. J. Peptide‐Catalyzed Fragment Couplings that Form Axially Chiral Non‐C2‐Symmetric Biaryls. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 2875.
Presentations
Teaching
Harvard University
2022–2023Teaching Fellow
• CHEM 105 (Advanced Organic Chemistry)
• CHEM 17 (Principles of Organic Chemistry), CHEM 20 (Organic Chemistry I)
Yale University
2018–2021Quantitative Reasoning/Science Peer Tutor
• General Chemistry I/II
• Organic Chemistry I
• Physical Chemistry I/II
Fellowships
Industry-Sponsored Research Fellowship
2024–2026Merck & Co., Inc.
DAAD Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE)
2019German Academic Exchange Service
Alan S. Tetelman 1958 Fellowship for International Research in the Sciences
2019Yale University
Honors & Awards
Certificate of Distinction in Teaching
2023Harvard University
Exceptional Distinction in the Major
2021Yale University • First award since 2015
Werner Bergmann Prize for Outstanding Senior in Chemistry
2021Yale University
Mentoring
Harvard University
• L Thompson (Graduate student, 2025–present)
• Yichen Jiang (Visiting undergraduate, Peking University, Jun–Oct 2025)
• Maximilian Frank (Visiting Masters student, LMU Munich, May–Aug 2025)
• John Rezk (Graduate student, 2022–2025)
• Frank Lee (Harvard College undergraduate, 2022–2025)
Service
Stereochemistry Gordon Research Seminar
2024Chair
Managed finances, applications, and speaker program
Letters to a Pre-Scientist
2021–2022STEM Professional
Exchanged letters with rural middle-schoolers about experiences in STEM
Yale Scientific Magazine
2020Editor in Chief
• Headed editorial and business operations for a national popular science publication
• Performed science demonstrations for local middle- and high-schoolers
• Previously Science Writer and Features Editor