Awards and Honors

College of Chemistry awards and honors featured in the news.

David Limmer awarded Department of Energy Early Career Research Program funding

August 7, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Richmond Sarpong

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science has announced this year’s selection of scientists to receive Early Career Research Program funding. David Limmer, UC Berkeley Assistant Professor of Chemistry, has been chosen as one of 73 scientists from across the country for his project entitled: Understanding and Controlling Photoexcited Molecules in Complex Environments.

2019 Reaxys PhD Prize winners announced

July 30, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

2019 Reaxys PhD Prize winnersFive UC Berkeley Ph.D. students have been announced as finalists of this year's Reaxys PhD Prize. The Prize celebrates innovative and rigorous research by ambitious young chemists. The Review Committee examined over 360 entries from around the globe to arrive at the 45 finalists.

Professor William Lester awarded lifetime achievement award

July 29, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

William Lester receives top awardProfessor William Lester a chemist and educator at UC Berkeley has been awarded the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019 for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the field of chemistry. This special honor is given based on longevity and contributions the honoree has made to society, and the impact on their industry. Professor Lester will be honored at IAOTP’s annual award gala at the end of this year.

Richmond Sarpong awarded the A.R. Katritzky Junior Award in Heterocyclic Chemistry

May 22, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry press release

Richmond Sarpong

Richmond Sarpong, Professor of Chemistry and Executive Associate Dean at the College of Chemistry has been awarded the 2019 A. R. Katritzky Junior Award in Heterocyclic Chemistry. Professor Sarpong will be given the award during a lecture presentation at the 27th International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry Congress in the fall of this year in Kyoto, Japan.

Peidong Yang's lab awarded CO2 challenge grant from NASA

May 22, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

A team of researchers from the lab of Peidong Yang have received a phase one grant for their project to develop an integrated system to synthesize sugars from CO2. NASA is preparing to land humans on the Moon in 2024, the agency is keeping a keen eye on technologies needed for Mars missions that will follow. New technologies will be needed to sustain human life as we move out into the stars.

Frances Arnold: from graduate student to Nobel Laureate

March 3, 2019
by Michael Barnes | College of Chemistry

Frances ArnoldIn the early 1980s, the lab of College biomolecular engineer Harvey Blanch brought together an adventurous group of young researchers and launched them on long and successful careers. One of them, Caltech professor 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.

Douglas Clark receives award for excellence in biochemical engineering

May 6, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Douglas Clark

Dean Douglas Clark has been awarded the prestigious D.I.C. Wang Award for Excellence in Biochemical Engineering for 2019 from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Omar Yaghi elected to the National Academy of Sciences

April 30, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Omar Yaghi

Omar Yaghi, Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor of Chemistry, was announced today as one of a 100 new members, and 25 foreign members, of the National Academy of Sciences. The election is in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Christiane Stachl wins Outstanding Student Leadership Award

April 22, 2019

JChristiane (Chrissy) Stachl

College of Chemistry graduate student Christiane (Chrissy) Stachl has 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.

Jeffrey Long named a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

April 18, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Jeffrey Long

Jeffrey Long, a UC Berkeley Professor of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, has been elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) for 2019. He joins eight fellow faculty from Berkeley in this year's class. The new class of more than 200 members recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals in academia, the arts, business, government, and public affairs.