Brian Larsen

Brian Larsen is a seasoned chemist with extensive experience in process chemistry and synthesis, currently serving as a Senior Staff Scientist at Ashland since March 2021. In this role, Brian leads the synthetic efforts on various projects, focusing on the development of novel molecules and specialty additives, including the successful launch of a new product line. Prior positions include Process Chemist at J-STAR Research, Inc., and Scientist in Process Chemistry at Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, where Brian optimized synthetic routes and collaborated with external partners. Brian has also worked at Merck, scaling up intermediates for API development, and served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center. With a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Michigan, Brian’s academic foundation includes roles as a Graduate Student Instructor and Research Assistant, where significant work on enantioselective synthesis was accomplished.