College Of Chemistry - UC Berkeley

05/27/2026

Dean Toste, chair of the chemistry department and the Gerald E. K. Branch Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, has been elected as a fellow of the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of sciences.

Toste's research centers around the development of catalysts, catalytic reactions and methods for synthesizing organic compounds, primarily complex molecules with interesting structural, biological and physical properties.

Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is one of the world's most prestigious science academies. Congratulations, Professor Toste!


https://bit.ly/4wPPYFr

05/21/2026

Congratulations class of 2026!

05/20/2026

Jeff Long, along with historian Carla Hesse, has been elected to the American Philosophical Society, the nation's oldest scholarly organization, founded by Benjamin Franklin.

🧪 Professor Long, a professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, conducts research on novel inorganic materials and molecules with applications in gas storage, molecular separations, conductivity, catalysis and magnetism. He also directs the Baker Hughes Institute for Decarbonization Materials, developing cost-effective materials for carbon capture and clean power generation.

Congratulations to both professors on joining this distinguished scholarly society!

https://bit.ly/4dlTu2y

05/15/2026

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 20, 9a-5p, 120 Latimer Hall! 📅

The College of Chemistry's Symposium Day is an opportunity to hear directly from our senior graduate students and postdocs as they present the research that represents years of hard work and innovation.

Charina Chou, COO of Google Quantum AI, will deliver the keynote address.

Students, families, and the campus community are all welcome to attend. A happy hour for presenters and their families will follow the presentations.

Join us in celebrating the next generation of scientific leaders!

04/30/2026

Attention College of Chemistry spring graduates! 🎉

Commencement tickets are now available for purchase. Each graduate may buy up to 8 tickets at $10 each, and you don't need a ticket for yourself.

Tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis. Orders exceeding the 8-ticket limit may be canceled without notice, so please start with your initial purchase of 8 tickets. Graduates will have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets at a later date, if supply allows.

For those experiencing financial hardship, a limited number of ticket waivers are available. Contact [email protected] for assistance. 💙💛

Tickets here via Cal Performances: https://bit.ly/4eeR4ng

04/28/2026

We are partnering with Veolia - Water Tech on groundbreaking water purification research. The partnership will focus on developing advanced detection methods for trace impurities in water, essential for semiconductor chip manufacturing. Professor Peidong Yang, internationally recognized for pioneering work in semiconductor nanowires and biohybrid materials, will lead the Berkeley team.

The collaboration aims to create custom-designed molecular filters that can capture even the smallest contaminants at the atomic level. Unlike current tools, these engineered materials could detect and remove persistent chemicals that traditional methods miss.

"We look forward to exploring new possibilities and creating meaningful impact in the months and years to come," said Anne Baranger, interim dean of the College of Chemistry.

© Photo by Scott Buschman
https://bit.ly/4vTUfqM

04/24/2026

From waste to weave: UC Berkeley researchers are reimagining the future of sustainable fashion.

The Bezos Earth Fund has awarded $10 million to a UC Berkeley-led project developing biodegradable fibers that could transform the textile industry. Taking inspiration from spider silk, Professor Ting Xu and her interdisciplinary team are extracting proteins from compost and industrial waste to create strong, flexible fibers.

The validation process will be rigorous—six or more months of stability testing and at least 50 wash cycles to confirm durability.

"For this project to be successful, multiple disciplines must come together, pushing scientists and engineers to think beyond our comfort zone." said Xu. "It's really exciting."

https://bit.ly/41X22GD

The central mission of the College of Chemistry is to advance society through education and research, and we have made it our responsibility to fulfill this mission, year in and year out, for more than 140 years.

04/20/2026

Did you know that one of the most important environmental discoveries in history started with a student from Mexico City at the College of Chemistry? 🎓

This coming Earth Day, we are celebrating the incredible life of Dr. Mario Molina. After moving from Mexico to California to earn his PhD, Mario dedicated his life to understanding our atmosphere. His discovery of the "ozone hole," with F. Sherwood Rowland, shown in photo, led to the banning of dangerous chemicals and gave our planet a second chance. He was a proud Mexican, a brilliant Berkeley Bear, and a Nobel Prize winner who never stopped fighting for a cleaner future.

04/16/2026

the College of Chemistry's Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) Department has one of the highest concentrations of National Academy of Engineering (NAE) members in the world?

With Professor Nitash Balsara's recent election to the NAE, 6 out of 14 full professors and research-active professors of the graduate school (nearly 43%) have now been elected to this prestigious honor.

Read more about what this means.
https://bit.ly/4sH9Ffo

04/14/2026

🎧

🎙️ Episode 6 of the APS Useful Knowledge podcast is now available! Tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to hear from Michael Marletta, biochemist, College Of Chemistry - UC Berkeley professor, and APS Member, about how he was inspired by his mother's cooking and the flight of Sputnik to become a scientist. Hear his thoughts about the exciting field of biochemistry and the role of the Earth itself in creating all the elements that make life possible. 🔬



🎧 Find more information here: https://bit.ly/4mzbBoQ