College of Chemistry

Graduate student Jose Roque awarded Bristol-Myers Squibb Fellowship

August 20, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Jose Roque

Jose Roque, a PhD student in the chemistry lab of Professor Richmond Sarpong, has been awarded a 2019–2020 Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) Graduate Fellowship in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. BMS fellowship awardees are chosen based on the fellow's demonstrated academic and research achievements as well as the potential for significant future accomplishments.

How carbon-14 revolutionized science

August 12, 2019
Robin McKie | History of Science, The Guardian

Richmond Sarpong

The discovery that carbon atoms act as a marker of time of death transformed everything from biochemistry to oceanography – but the breakthrough nearly didn’t happen. Martin Kamen had worked for three days and three nights without sleep. The US chemist was finishing off a project in which he and colleague Sam Ruben (B.S. ' Chem; Ph.D. '38, Chem), had bombarded a piece of graphite with subatomic particles. The aim of their work was to create new forms of carbon, ones that might have practical uses. Willard Libby (B.S. '31, Chem; Ph.D. '33, Chem) of Chicago University figured out that the radioactivity generated by carbon-14 could be exploited to tremendous advantage.

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.

Reticular chemistry in all dimensions

August 6, 2019
Omar Yaghi, et al | ACS Central Science

Richmond Sarpong

In a new virtual collection from ACS Central Science, recently published articles about new research into reticular chemistry are highlighted. Omar Yaghi, The James and Neeltje Tretter Professor of Chemistry, pens the introduction.

Some of the topics covered in the issue include: electric field response of MOFs; PolyCOFs; porous aromatic frameworks; improving the mechanical stability of MOFS using chemical caryatids; computational design of functionalized MOF nodes for catalysis; porous molecular solids and liquids; and rapid, elective heavy metal removal from water by MOFs/polydopamine composite.

Alumna Yuan-Tsan Chia donates $1.1 million to the College of Chemistry

September 4, 2018


Yuan-Tsan ChiaDr. Yuan-Tsan Chia (M.A. Chem ’55, Ph.D. Chem ’58) has left a bequest of $1.1 million to the College of Chemistry in honor of Professor Robert Connick who she studied with for her Ph.D. Chia was the first woman to join the Central Research Department at DuPont working there for more than thirty years. She obtained a number of patents, collaborated on noteworthy projects including improvements to the manufacturing processes for synthetic fibers, plus development of various Teflon and Kevlar applications.

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.

Alum explores the costs of doing business in space

July 30, 2019
Jeffery Greenblatt + Alfred Anzaldúa | The Space Review

The cost of doing business in spaceThe world already benefits greatly from space technology, especially in terms of communications, positioning services, Earth observation, and economic activity related to government-funded space programs. With an explosion of more than 2,000 commercial space companies, including those building communications satellites, orbital launch vehicles, and rovers for the Moon and Mars, the world’s commercial space capabilities are quickly expanding beyond our satellite industry,

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.

Scientists introduce a new framework for artificial photosynthesis

June 24, 2019
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

artificial photosynthesisScientists have long sought to mimic the process by which plants make their own fuel using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water through artificial photosynthesis devices, but how exactly substances called catalysts work to generate renewable fuel remains a mystery.

Stellar reactions in a galaxy not so far, far away

July 2, 2019
by Dan Linehan | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Dawn ShaughnessyDawn Shaughnessy leads the Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group of the Physics and Life Sciences Directorate at Lawrence Berkeley Livermore Lab and uses the National Ignition Facility to generate some of the most extreme conditions in our solar system for high energy density experiments.