Carl Saint-Louis

Assistant Professor
Kennesaw State University

The Saint-Louis Lab focuses on two main research areas: (1) We are developing a new class of thiophene o-nitrobenzyl photolabile protecting groups that absorb in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These compounds are being integrated into the design of light-responsive smart materials and facilitate the controlled release of biologically significant molecules and (2) our work also involves the design, synthesis, and application of novel fluorescent molecules featuring the boron-nitrogen (BN) bond. We investigate how the incorporation of the BN bond affects their photophysical properties, with a focus on understanding their intermolecular interactions.

Dr. Saint-Louis is passionate about undergraduate mentorship and education. He has established programs like the SCM2000 Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE), a program that introduces first-year college students to scientific research early in their academic journey. His dedication to fostering scientific curiosity has made a meaningful impact on the academic community at Kennesaw State University (KSU).

A native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Dr. Saint-Louis moved to the United States at age 12. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from KSU and later completed his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He returned to his alma mater, KSU, to begin his academic career in 2020 where his contributions to research and teaching have been recognized with several accolades, including: 2025 ACS-PRF Undergraduate New Investigator Award, 2024 Apex Research Award at KSU, 2024 Top Researcher at KSU for the 2023–2024 academic year, 2024 KSU College of Science and Mathematics Teaching Excellence Award, 2022 Faculty in Focus at KSU, Spring 2021 cover of The Investigator Research Magazine at KSU, and 2021 NSF-LEAPS-MPS award