Nancy S Goroff

Nancy Sarah Goroff (born February 18, 1968) is an American organic chemist who formerly served as chair of the chemistry department at Stony Brook University. Her research investigates conjugated organic molecules, including polymers, halocarbons and buckyballs. During the 2020 United States elections Goroff ran to represent New York's 1st congressional district, and was defeated by the incumbent, Lee Zeldin.

Early life and education Goroff studied chemistry at Harvard University. She moved to the West Coast for her graduate studies, where she joined University of California, Los Angeles, and worked under the supervision of and François Diederich.

Scientific career Goroff was an National Science Foundation (NSF) postdoctoral fellow at the Michigan State University, where she worked in the laboratory of James (Ned) Jackson. At MSU she worked on the synthesis and study of carbenes. Goroff continued her postdoctoral studies at the University of Michigan, studying chemical education with Brian Coppola. The Goroff laboratory designs conjugated organic molecules, including polymers, halocarbons and buckybelts. Among these, Goroff is interested in organoiodine compounds (including iodoalkynes) and halogenated cumulenes. She has investigated the chemical, material and photophysical properties of poly(diiododiacetylene), a polymer known as PIDA. Goroff has shown that suspending solutions of PIDA in pyrrolidine results in the formation of a highly conductive material.

Goroff is a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists. On June 23 she won the Democratic primary, with 36.1 percent of the vote, finishing ahead of 2018 nominee Perry Gershon. In November, she faced incumbent Lee Zeldin in the general election, losing by 9.8%. If elected, Goroff would have been the first woman scientist with a PhD to be elected to Congress. 2003 Thieme Award 2011 Stony Brook University Award for Excellence in Service

Selected publications