Awards and Honors

College of Chemistry awards and honors featured in the news.

Christiane Stachl wins Outstanding Student Leadership Award

April 22, 2019
College of Chemistry graduate student Christiane (Chrissy) Stachl who received the Deans Outstanding Student award for demonstrating remarkable vision, commitment, and success as the President of the Chemistry Graduate Life Committee, and for her contributions to creating opportunities to promote equity and inclusion within the Chemistry Department.

David Schaffer named to NAE

February 12, 2025
By Veronica Bartell | College of Chemistry
David Schaffer inducted by prestigious organization for world-changing research.

The College of Chemistry is ranked No.1 globally in 2019 by U.S. News

November 5, 2018
by Marge d'Wylde | College of Chemistry
UC Berkeley's College of Chemistry has been listed as the best global university for chemistry in the 2019 U.S. News and World Report Education rankings.

Frances Arnold: from graduate student to Nobel Laureate

March 3, 2019
by Michael Barnes | College of Chemistry
Caltech professor and Cal alum Frances Arnold, has won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discoveries in the directed evolution of enzymes. Arnold is the fifth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry since it was first awarded in 1901.

UC dominates new U.S. News ranking of public universities

September 11, 2018
by Public Affairs, UC Berkeley

Campanile, Berkeley campus

The University of California dominates the latest ranking of public universities from U.S. News and World Report, claiming six spots in the top 12 and seven in the top 30.

As usual, UCLA and UC Berkeley joust for position at the top of the list, in first and second place among public universities. This year, UCLA added four points to its...

John Hartwig: The 2019 Wolf Prize and the importance of fundamental research in the discovery of synthetic catalysts

March 9, 2019
Marge d'Wylde | College of Chemistry

John Hartwig (Ph.D.’90, Chem), is the Henry Rapoport Professor in Organic Chemistry at UC Berkeley. He joined the senior faculty at the College of Chemistry in 2011. His research group is focused on the discovery and understanding of new reactions of organic compounds catalyzed by transition metal complexes and artificial metalloenzymes. Among the many potential applications are catalysts for pharmaceuticals, renewable chemicals, and fuels.

Hartwig did his graduate research at UC Berkeley with advisors Robert Bergman...

Omar Yaghi awarded 2024 Balzan Prize

September 9, 2024
College of Chemistry Press Release
Professor Omar M. Yaghi was awarded the 2024 Balzan Prize by the International Balzan Prize Foundation.

The College of Chemistry announces new lectureship in honor of William Lester

November 10, 2020
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Professor Lester standing in his office in front of a bookcasePhoto: Professor William Lester in the 1980s at UC Berkeley.

The College of Chemistry is pleased to announce that a new lectureship has been established and named for Professor of the Graduate School William Lester. The lectureship is intended to welcome distinguished...

The first women chemists at Cal

February 5, 2018
by Marge d'Wylde | College of Chemistry

Early Women Chemistry Scientists at Cal The College salutes the pioneer women chemistry faculty at Cal. Both as scientists, and as early faculty members at the University, they helped to pave the way for the next generations of women faculty and students.

The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists celebrates winners with gala ceremony

October 4, 2024
College of Chemistry
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists celebrated the 2024 award recipients in a gala ceremony in New York on October 1.