College of Chemistry

With a little help, new optical material assembles itself

February 4, 2022
Theresa Duque |Lawrence Berkeley Lab

Nanocircles

Using 3D STEM (scanning transmission electron microscope) tomography at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry, Ting Xu and her team mapped out the precise placement of nanoparticles in a self-assembling material. (Courtesy of ACS Nano)

A research team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has demonstrated tiny concentric nanocircles that self-assemble into an...

White House honors chemists Darleane Hoffman and Gabor Somorjai with Enrico Fermi Award

March 29, 2023
by Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley Public Affairs

Darleane Hoffman and Gabor Somorjai

Nuclear chemist Darleane Hoffman and surface chemist Gabor Somorjai received the Enrico Fermi Award from President Biden and Vice-President Harris for their pioneering work. Photos courtesy of Lawrence Berkeley Lab.

The Biden Administration today (Tuesday, March 28) named Darleane C. Hoffman...

Discoveries at the Edge of the Periodic Table: First Ever Measurements of Einsteinium

February 3, 2021
By Julie Chao | Berkeley Lab

Members of the discovery team at Berkeley Lab

Berkeley Lab scientists Leticia Arnedo-Sanchez (from left), Katherine Shield, Korey Carter, and Jennifer Wacker had to take precautions against radioactivity as well as coronavirus to conduct experiments with the rare element, einsteinium. (Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab)

Since element 99 – einsteinium – was discovered in 1952 at...

Jay Keasling awarded Doing a World of Good Medal

September 12, 2019
AIChE Press Release

For immediate release
Berkeley, CA

Promotional graphic for AIChE Gala

AIChE has announced the 2019 Doing a World of Good Medal will be presented to Jay D. Keasling, Professor, University of California, Berkeley and Senior Faculty Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley...

New therapy breakthrough changes the shape of treatment for undruggable diseases

February 24, 2022
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Illustration of DUBTAC target

DUBTAC in action against a target. (Courtesy Nomura Lab)

For some time, scientists have been working on the major challenge of developing new therapies against many human diseases. Many of these diseases are caused by the abberant action of certain proteins in our cells that are considered “undruggable”, or difficult to therapeutically target using classical drug...

Why you should stay single: The scientific benefits of using a single photon

October 8, 2020
Kaydren Orcutt |QB3 Berkeley

Illustration of hamburger stack

Like many other labs, Graham Fleming’s group is focusing on interdisciplinary techniques to make new discoveries and explore the mysteries of fundamental processes. Chemistry graduate student Kaydren Orcutt highlights how researchers can combine physics and biology, generating single photons in a bid to unentangle the mysteries of photosynthesis.

The scientists in Graham...

Michael Zuerch receives award for quantum electronic and optics research

June 23, 2021
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Artist’s impression of the XUV-SHG on a titanium foil.

Illustration: artist’s rendering of the XUV-SHG on a titanium foil. Courtesy of the lab of Michael Zurch.

The College of Chemistry is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor of Chemistry...

Ashok Ajoy announced as a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar

June 7, 2022
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Ashok Ajoy

CIFAR, a leading international research organization which funds outstanding early-career researchers and provides opportunities for mentorship and collaboration, has named Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ashok Ajoy a 2022...

New $115 Million Quantum Systems Accelerator to Pioneer Quantum Technologies for Discovery Science

August 26, 2020
by Dan Krotz | Berkeley Lab

dilution refrigerator

The Quantum Systems Accelerator will optimize a wide range of advanced qubit technologies available today. Berkeley Lab uses sophisticated dilution refrigerators to cool and operate superconducting quantum processor circuits. (Credit: Thor Swift/Berkeley Lab)

The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $115 million over five years to the Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA), a new...

How water helps the substrate into the enzyme

December 15, 2020
Press Release | Ruhr-Universität Bochum

eyedropper with liquid

When water is present in tiny quantities – much less than in this droplet – it develops special properties. (photo: Roger Ashford, Adobe Stock)

An international research team has investigated water molecules in a tiny cage – and discovered previously unknown properties.

Researchers from Bochum and UC Berkeley have investigated why cages can increase the catalytic...