University of California-Los Angeles · ChemistryThe Molecular Forge
Neil K. Garg · Los Angeles, California
Research Focus
Dr. Neil K. Garg's research lab at UCLA focuses on developing innovative chemical synthesis methods using unusual building blocks to create complex molecular structures. The work aims to improve how we construct small molecules that are important for natural products and medicines. By exploring strained intermediates with distorted geometries, the lab seeks to uncover new strategies for synthesizing drugs with intricate designs.
chemical synthesisnatural productsmedicinal chemistryunconventional building blocksstereochemistrysynthetic methodologysmall moleculesstrained intermediatesorganic chemistry
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop new methodologies for efficient chemical synthesis
AIM 02Utilize strained intermediates to create complex molecular architectures
AIM 03Synthesize stereochemically-rich scaffolds for natural products
AIM 04Investigate enantioselective synthesis techniques
AIM 05Explore geometric distortion effects on molecular reactivity
Skills the Lab Values
organic synthesisspectroscopic analysisreaction optimizationcatalysis techniqueschromatographymolecular modelingcrystallographychemical characterizationexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications336top 33% of dept.71st of 216
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations16ktop 32% of dept.69th of 216
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.