Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Frances Arnold turns microbes into living factories

May 28, 2019
by Natalie Angier | The New York Times
The engineer’s mantra, said Frances Arnold, a professor of chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology, is: “Keep it simple, stupid.” But Dr. Arnold, who last year became just the fifth woman in history to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, is the opposite of stupid, and her stories sometimes turn rococo.

PDP student research becomes white papers for Givaudan

October 31, 2022
Sudhir Joshi
PDP is pleased to present a series of white papers produced by our students for Givaudan – a global flavors and fragrances supplier. The papers were part of the PDP student's capstone projects.

CBE student Zirun Liang among recipients of 'Future Leaders in Chemical Engineering' award

October 21, 2025
Press Release | College of Chemistry
Zirun was honored for his research with Professor Markita Landry, entitled 'Single-Molecule Modification of Carbon Nanotubes Through Stochastic Deposition of ssDNA'.

Gel nail manicures come with exposure to skin-damaging UV. A UC Berkeley chemist has a solution.

October 14, 2025
By Robert Sanders | Berkeley News
A key discovery in a Berkeley lab led to a spray, now on the market, that protects skin from the cancer-causing UV emitted by gel hardening lamps — without affecting the nails' looks or durability.

David Schaffer named to NAE

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

Can the ‘good’ bacteria in your mouth act as probiotic cavity fighters?

September 5, 2025
By Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley News
Wenjun Zhang is trying to understand how oral bacteria make biofilms, aka plaque, so she can distinguish the good from the bad — and tip the balance to prevent cavities.

Is the ‘love hormone,’ oxytocin, also the ‘friendship hormone’?

August 12, 2025
By Robert Sanders | Berkeley News
A UC Berkeley study found that social prairie voles lacking the receptor for oxytocin are slow to form friendships and less aggressive toward unfamiliar peers. This suggests a role for oxytocin in both the “approach” and “avoid” sides of maintaining friendships.

Newly granted CRISPR patents boost UC’s U.S. portfolio to 10

August 2, 2019
By Robert Sanders, Media relations
The University of California has received two new patents for use of the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Five more are expected to be issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by the end of the summer.

Jay Keasling talks to Japan's NHK World about Synthetic Biology

August 14, 2019
Direct Talk | NHK World Japan
Kesling spoke about the impact that interdisciplinary technology can have in people’s lives as well as addressing safety concerns.

Emeritus professor Jean Fréchet awarded King Faisal Prize in Science

February 27, 2019
King Faisal Foundation press release

Jean Fréchet named 2019 King Faisal Prize in Science winnerProfessor Jean M. J. Fréchet, UC Berkeley professor emeritus and Allen Bard, Professor of Chemistry at UT Austin have been named co-Laureates of the 2019 King Faisal Prize in Science. The award, announced on January 13, cites Fréchet's pioneering work and seminal contributions in the areas of convergent synthesis of dendrimers and their applications, chemically amplified photoresists and organic photovoltaics. A ceremony honoring the Laureates will be held in March.