Professor Abigail Doyle has received UCLA’s Postdoctoral Association 2026–27 Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award in recognition of her outstanding commitment to mentoring postdoctoral scholars.
Doyle was nominated for the award by her postdoctoral scholars and members of her research group. The award honors faculty members who make a meaningful impact on the professional development and experiences of postdoctoral researchers.
“Professor Abigail Doyle is an exceptional mentor who consistently takes all possible extra steps to enable the scientific, professional, and personal success of her postdoctoral fellows,” said postdoctoral scholar Dr. Sven Roedinger.
The award was presented to Doyle at UCLA’s Postdoc Welcome Reception on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in the Founders’ Room at the James West Alumni Center.
Doyle was born in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1980. She received her A.B. and A.M. summa cum laude in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University in 2002. As an undergraduate, she investigated iron-catalyzed epoxidations of alkenes in collaboration with Dr. Christina White. She began her graduate studies at Stanford University, where she worked with Professor Justin Du Bois. In 2003, she transferred to Harvard University and joined the laboratory of Professor Eric Jacobsen. Her graduate research included the discovery of a transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective alkylation of tributyltin enolates with alkyl halides and the development of a thiourea catalyst for enantioselective nucleophilic additions to prochiral oxocarbenium ions.
Doyle began her independent career at Princeton University in 2008 and was promoted to associate professor in 2013. She moved to UCLA in 2021 and is now the Saul Winstein Chair in Organic Chemistry.
In 2024, Doyle was named to the Cell Press 50 Scientists that Inspire list for her contributions in organic chemistry and computational chemistry.
In 2026, Doyle and collaborators at the Scripps Research Institute and Sunthetics, an AI-for-chemistry company, received a National Science Foundation award to support the development of an AI-enabled, remotely accessible laboratory that will serve as both a discovery engine and a training platform for the next generation of chemists. Doyle will lead efforts in data-rich experimental design and the discovery of new catalytic reactions using automation and open-source AI/ML tools.
Distinguished Professor Juli Feigon also received the 2026–27 Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
