Student Spotlight: Bayu Ahmad
February 16, 2026
Bayu Ahmad is a doctoral candidate in chemistry and chemical biology from outside Jakarta, Indonesia. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Middlebury College and now studies the use of organic chemistry for sustainable applications under the guidance of Phillip Milner at Cornell.
What is your area of research and why is it important?
In the Milner group, I have been fortunate to explore various research projects that leverage organic chemistry for sustainable applications. For example, I have been developing energy-efficient chemical separation using emerging tools, such as light- or electricity-driven reactions. These include my work on (sun)light-driven carbon dioxide capture from emission streams and electricity-driven separation of commodity chemical feedstock. I have also developed a recyclable and enhanced material that could help reduce waste from the most common reaction in the pharmaceutical industry. Moving forward, I am looking to merge synthetic chemistry and synthetic biology to build the next-generation platform for sustainable chemical production.
What are the larger implications of this research?
Since chemical separation/purification takes up about 15% of global energy consumption, it represents a significant opportunity for reducing energy use, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Though, many industries still depend on outdated technologies that exploit only differences in physical properties, such as size, which makes them energy-intensive. Instead, leveraging differences in chemical reactivity offers a promising avenue for developing more selective – and thus more efficient – processes. Moreover, by designing these processes based on stimuli, such as light or electricity, that can directly or easily harness renewable energy sources, we could further improve their efficiency and thus make a greater impact in combating climate change.
What inspired you to choose this field of study?
Growing up in a lower-middle-class community in Indonesia, I witnessed the environmental degradation of my surroundings firsthand, which sparked my interest in sustainability from early on. I was extremely lucky that this passion led me to full-ride scholarships abroad for high school and college. During my time at Middlebury, an environmental internship at a hospital helped me realize that I could make a positive impact on sustainability in any career path. Scientifically, I was always captivated by organic chemistry, particularly by the “Lego-like” creativity and critical thinking it demands. Once I realized I could simultaneously pursue both, the rest just became history.
What did receiving funding from the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability allow you to do that you might not have been able to otherwise?
During a group meeting in my second year, my advisor asked us a brainstorming question: “What understudied reactive motif(s) can we use for improving carbon capture?” In particular, I was aware that energy efficiency was a key challenge, so after a quick literature search, I sketched a new (sun)light-driven process with the motif that biology uses to capture CO2 in nature. Excitingly, the idea worked! But as an idea distinct from our existing grants, I could not explore it freely, so receiving funding from Atkinson truly helped cement this idea into a formal project, leading to its publication last year.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of your research or scholarship?
I am quite a dabbler when it comes to hobbies. Kayaking, listening to audiobooks, and ice skating – or rather, learning to – have been my main hobbies, but I enjoy biking, gardening, and taking fun classes as well, such as aerial arts at the local circus school. I also mentor a local kid through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and it has been such a rewarding experience that allows both of us to explore all sorts of interests. Additionally, I try to create digital content about LGBTQ issues in my free time to help educate and advocate for Indonesians back home.
Why did you choose Cornell to pursue your degree?
When I applied to graduate schools, I wanted to do research at the interface of organic chemistry and sustainability. Traditionally, research in organic chemistry focuses on developing new or improved chemical reactions for drug discovery and development, and the overlap between this focus and sustainability is rather limited. To my delight, the chemistry department at Cornell uniquely has several laboratories conducting this type of research, so Cornell became the obvious choice. Besides, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the four-seasons climate after four years in Vermont, so getting to experience that more in Ithaca is genuinely a pleasant bonus.