From Molecular Complexity to Synthetic Simplicity

As synthetic chemistry evolves, digital tools are becoming essential for accelerating innovation, improving efficiency, and supporting sustainability. This webinar explores how computer-assisted retrosynthesis is reshaping the way chemists design and execute synthetic routes—unlocking new possibilities in both academic and industrial settings.

Olaf Wiest, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame, presents his latest research on strategic retrosynthesis, illustrating how complex natural product synthesis can serve as a foundation for new approaches to challenging molecular architectures.

Dr. Ewa Gajewska, Head of Product Management, SYNTHIA Retrosynthesis Software, Merck® Retrosynthesis Software, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, will provide a hands-on demonstration of SYNTHIA Software, showing how expert-coded rules and AI-driven algorithms can streamline planning, optimize routes, and support green chemistry initiatives.

Key learning for attendees:

• Understand the strategic value of computer-assisted retrosynthesis in modern synthetic chemistry.
• Learn how SYNTHIA combines expert knowledge and AI to accelerate route design and reduce costs.
• Explore practical applications of SYNTHIA in academic research, medicinal chemistry, and process development.
• Discover how digital tools can support sustainability goals and inspire new synthetic strategies.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and future-ready skills—register now and join the live Q&A with leading experts in computational chemistry.

Presenter: Prof. Olaf Wiest (Grace-Rupley Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame)
Olaf Wiest received his Dr. rer. nat at the University of Bonn, and did postdoctoral work in computational organic chemistry with Ken Houk at UCLA. He has been a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame since 1996, most recently as the Grace-Rupley Professor.

He is the director of the NSF Center for Computer Assisted Synthesis which is dedicated to applications of machine learning in organic synthesis.

Presenter: Ewa Gajewska (Head of Product Management, SYNTHIA Retrosynthesis Software)

Dr. Ewa Gajewska is the Head of Product Management at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, where she leads the development of SYNTHIA Retrosynthesis Software – a groundbreaking software for computer-assisted synthetic planning. She graduated in biotechnology and chemistry from the Gdansk University of Technology and was a recipient of the Outstanding Achievements Award from Poland’s Minister of Science and Higher Education. In 2020 she received her PhD from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Her passion for tackling complex scientific challenges within commercial settings and the unique blend of her interdisciplinary skills drive the realization of innovative features of SYNTHIA Retrosynthesis Software.