His research focuses on challenges in heterogeneous and molecular catalysis with an emphasis on developing scalable CO2 utilization technologies. His group has invented “grain-boundary-rich” heterogeneous electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction to liquid fuels and carbonate-promoted C–H carboxylation reactions for commodity carboxylic acid synthesis. Kanan was named one of the Talented 12 by Chemistry and Engineering News (2015) and a Dreyfus Environmental Postdoctoral Mentor (2012). He is also recipient of the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2014). Kanan studied chemistry as an undergraduate at Rice University and received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Harvard University.