Awards and Honors

College of Chemistry awards and honors featured in the news.

Trio win Nobel chemistry prize for work on 'Hermione's handbag' materials

October 8, 2025
By Johan Ahlander, Niklas Pollard and Marie Mannes | Reuters
(Reuters) - Scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi won the 2025 Nobel chemistry prize for developing a new form of molecular architecture, yielding materials that can help tackle challenges such as climate change and lack of fresh water.
https://www.reuters.com/science/kitagawa-robson-yaghi-win-2025-nobel-prize-chemi…

Research on metal-organic frameworks gets the chemistry Nobel Prize

October 8, 2025
by The Associated Press
(The Associated Press/NPR) - Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for their development of metal–organic frameworks that could eventually help reduce pollution and combat climate change. (Photo credit: Nobel Prize, Clement Morin)
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/08/g-s1-92461/nobel-prize-chemistry-metal-organic-fr…

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.

Omar M. Yaghi to receive 2025 Von Hippel Award, the Materials Research Society’s highest honor

September 30, 2025
Press Release courtesy of the Materials Research Society (MRS)
Yaghi is being honored for pioneering the design and synthesis of metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks, enabling advances in gas storage, carbon capture, and water harvesting from air.

The first women chemists at Cal

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

Clayton Radke Awarded Ruben Medal

August 30, 2019
By Eric Craypo | UC Berkeley, School of Optometry
Radke has been awarded the Ruben Medal by the International Society for Contact Lens Research.

Jennifer Doudna wins Priestley Medal

August 6, 2025
By Veronica Bartell | College of Chemistry
The Priestley Medal is the highest honor given out by the American Chemical Society (ACS), annually recognizing distinguished service to chemistry.

Omar Yaghi elected to the National Academy of Sciences

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

Ashok Ajoy named 2025 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar

May 15, 2025
College of Chemistry Press Release
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ashok Ajoy has been named a 2025 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar.