College of Chemistry

Peidong Yang's lab awarded CO2 challenge grant from NASA

May 22, 2019

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

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

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).

How a botched train robbery led to the birth of modern American criminology

May 1, 2019

Edward Oscar Heinrich

Following a huge manhunt to capture three train robbers, authorities called in an up-and-coming forensic scientist Edward Oscar Heinrich (BS, 1908, Chem), a UC Berkeley lecturer and alumnus, to help solve what became known as the "Last Great Train Robbery." He didn’t know that the case would put him on the map as a pioneer in modern American criminology .

Omar Yaghi elected to the National Academy of Sciences

April 30, 2019

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.

CARA hosts research event at UC San Diego

April 24, 2019

CARA research alliance

The California Research Alliance (CARA), sponsored by BASF, hosted their spring review meeting at UC San Diego on March 28-29. The program featured two full days of presentations reporting on scientific progress from university researchers.

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

April 18, 2019

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.

Alumna Geraldine Richmond to speak at Commencement

April 9, 2019

Geraldine Richmond

Alumna Geraldine Richmond (Ph.D. '80, Chem with George Pimentel), Presidential Chair in Science and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon will speak at this year's College of Chemistry commencement in May. Her research examines the chemistry and physics that occurs at complex surfaces that have relevance to important problems in energy production, environmental remediation and atmospheric chemistry.

Martin Head-Gordon elected to the Royal Society of London

April 18, 2019

Martin Head-Gordon

Martin Head-Gordon, has been named one of fifty-one eminent scientists inducted in 2019 into the Fellows of the Royal Society for his exceptional contributions to science. His research interests center on developing electronic structure theory, algorithms, and simulation codes, with the goal of attaining accurate computable models for exploring chemical problems ranging from catalytic reaction mechanisms to understanding of molecular interactions and chemical bonds.