UCLA

The 2022 CMC Materials Lecture
2022-06-08 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
TBA

Chemistry and Biochemistry Departmental Graduation Ceremony
2022-06-11 16:00
More details will be provided during April 2022.

Houk Research Conference
2022-08-11 10:00
Dear Alumni, Collaborators, Colleagues, and Friends:
On behalf of the organizing committee is it our pleasure to invite you to the Houk Research Conference (HRC) that will bring together alumni, current students and collaborators for a two-day meeting at UCLA on August 11-12th, 2022.
The HRC aims to honor the career, tradition and experience of computational chemistry research at UCLA with Ken Houk. There will be ample opportunities for alumni, collaborators and newcomers to interact across disciplines. In addition to poster and oral presentations, breakout sessions and elevator talks will serve to strengthen ties between industrial, academic, and government researchers and re-connect them on the UCLA campus.
We hope to count on your participation to contribute to this meeting. Please visit the following website for additional information.
http://www.houkconference.com
Best regards,
The Organizing Committee

2022 Seaborg Symposium & Medal Award Dinner
2022-08-17 13:00 - 21:00
For the event rsvp and details, please visit www.seaborg.ucla.edu/. Registration is required for the event.

Professional Clubs Mixer!
2022-08-19 15:30 - 17:00
Come join us for food, drinks, and to learn how to get involved in the UCLA Sciences community! This event is in-person only and will be hosted in Boyer 159 at 3:30pm this Friday, we hope to see you there!
gBSA’s 1st Annual Biosciences Club Mixer

gBSA 2022 Summer Seminar Series - Fran Zone
2022-08-26 15:30 - 17:00

New Faculty Welcome Reception
2022-09-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Boyer 159, 611 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Dear Faculty and Staff,
We will hold a casual welcome event for our newest faculty members, Professors Prineha Narang, Matthew Nava, and Danielle Schmitt!
The event will be held on Thursday, September 8th, 3-4pm on the Boyer Hall 159 Patio.

Please be sure to save the date and RSVP here. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Hope to see you there!

Staff Meeting
2022-09-09 12:00 - 13:00
Greetings Staff!
Join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on September 9th from 12-1pm for an All Staff Meeting. The meeting will include a lecture by Professor Bill Gelbart “Viruses, Vaccines, and Your Immune System” followed by staffing updates, major departmental initiatives, and training opportunities presented by Amy Ragsdale. The meeting will also include break out sessions with fellow staff members to team team build and get to know one another.
The meeting will be hybrid format with an in-person viewing group in Young Hall 2050 and the rest of the meeting taking place over zoom. Boxed lunches will be provided for who RSVP’d by 8/31. Once you retrieve your meal from Young Hall 2050, it is encouraged that you attend the meeting in your office via Zoom.
Thank you and please email Isaiahgtz@chem.ucla.edu for questions.

The 2022 M. Frederick Hawthorne Symposium
2022-09-16 13:00 - 19:00
Dear Alumni, Collaborators, Colleagues, and Friends: On behalf of the organizing committee, is it our pleasure to invite you to the M. Frederick Hawthorne Symposium that will bring together alumni, current students and collaborators at UCLA on Friday, September 16th, 2022. The Hawthorne Symposium aims to honor the career and research of those who have made significant contributions to chemistry involving the elements of groups 1, 2, and 13-18 in the periodic table in keeping with the example provided by the late Professor M. Frederick Hawthorne (August 24, 1928 – July 8, 2021), whose work in boron chemistry and time as a UCLA professor have largely shaped the field and touched the lives of countless students, faculty, researchers, and staff.
We will be honoring two keynote speakers and recipients of the M. Frederick Hawthorne Award in Main Group Inorganic Chemistry award, Philip Power and Karl O. Christe, as well as four symposium speakers — Ohyun Kwon, William J. Evans, R. Tom Baker, and Alexandra Velian. There will be ample opportunities for alumni, collaborators and newcomers to interact across disciplines. In addition to speaker presentations, a reception will be served during and after the symposium. We hope to count on your participation to contribute to this meeting.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP at: https://forms.gle/9AUuqaBoy9ry6dbz8. For more information, please contact Stephanie Lo (stephanie.lo@chem.ucla.edu).

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Jennifer Dionne
2022-09-19 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Title: Lighting Up the Oceans: Emerging Nanophotonic Platforms for Real-time Ocean Observation

Abstract: The oceans are the largest biological habitat in the known universe and are among the least charted. Covering over two and a half times the area of Mars, the oceans host diverse microorganisms that cycle nearly all chemical elements and are responsible for half of the global photosynthetic activity. Yet, studying the marine microbiome remains an outstanding challenge. Very few marine microbes have been successfully cultured under laboratory conditions, and culture-free methods like genomics and mass spectrometry are incompatible with the real time measurements necessary to study how physicochemical drivers impact microbial nutrient cycling. Here, we present our efforts to simultaneously and rapidly measure multiple ‘omic’ signatures from the ocean. First, we combine Raman spectroscopy and deep learning to accurately classify bacteria by both species and antibiotic resistance in a single step. With a convolutional neural network (CNN), we achieve species identification and antibiotic susceptibility accuracies similar to leading mass spectrometry techniques. Next, we describe resonant nanophotonic surfaces that enable detection of genes, proteins, and metabolites with femtomolar sensitivity. These metasurfaces produce a large amplification of the electromagnetic field intensity, increasing the response to minute refractive index changes from target binding; simultaneously, the light is beam-steered to particular detector pixels. By combining metasurface design with acoustic bioprinting for functionalization, we produce develop chips that detect gene fragments, proteins, and small molecule toxins on the same platform. We discuss integration of these sensors with autonomous underwater robots from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) for real-time phytoplankton and phycotoxin detection.

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar 278: Neil Tomson
2022-09-21 16:00 - 17:15 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Prof. Neil Tomson
Title: Ligand Flexibility in Surface-Inspired Cluster Chemistry
Abstract: Metallic surfaces perform many chemical transformations that hold promise for the future energy economy, including dinitrogen reduction, ammonia oxidation, and alkane synthesis, but surfaces are difficult to tune, limiting chemists’ ability to improve their efficiencies. Molecular cluster complexes inspired by surface chemistry have been studied for decades to capitalize on the advantages of metallic surfaces while avoiding the scaling relationships that govern their activities. Progress in this area has been hampered, however, by the lack of ligand architectures able to provide an appropriate degree of geometric and electronic flexibility to the cluster core.
This talk will describe our use of macrocyclic, multi-nucleating ligands that have been designed to bind small metal clusters (2-4 metal atoms) in a way that mimics M–M bonding. Doing so allows for both facile electron redistribution within the cluster-ligand assembly and a high density of thermally accessible electronic states. These ligands have the added advantage of providing the geometric flexibility needed for stabilizing a range of surface-relevant species. Examples include diiron dinitrogen complexes that exist in a geometry reminiscent of the side-on binding of dinitrogen to the Mittasch catalyst, a diiron-supported sp-hybridized bridging nitride that converts into an sp3-hybridized bridging amide following hydrogen atom transfer, and the first (putative) dicobalt bridging nitride – a highly reactive species that mimics aspects of surface nitrides that develop during ammonia oxidation in the Ostwald Process. Particular attention will be paid to the electronic structures of an electrophilic diiron bridging nitrides, which appears to exhibit a sub-valent oxidation state.

Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Clemence Corminbouef
2022-09-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Corminbouef Flyer
Title: NaviCat: Computational Tools to Navigate Molecular Catalyst Landscape
Abstract: Over the last few years, we have worked on an assortment of computational and digital tools aimed at accelerating the through exploration and optimization of homogeneous catalyst landscapes. These interoperable tools are assembled into the NaviCat (Navigating Catalysis) platform, which includes: volcanic, an automated generator of volcano plots and activity/
selectivity maps; NaviCatGA, a genetic algorithm-based catalyst optimizer; and additional pipelines that generate structures, create catalyst libraries as well as statistical models and representations specifically developed to accelerate the exploration process.
The complementary nature of these tools will be demonstrated through optimizing the catalytic activity and selectivity of both prototypical classes of reactions and challenging organic processes. Overall, the NaviCat platform aims to expand upon original data-driven tools and broaden their application in the field of computational homogeneous catalysis.

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar 278: Joshua Goldberger
2022-09-28 16:00 - 17:15 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Prof. Joshua Goldberger Flyer
Meet the Speaker: 11 a.m., YH 3096
Title: New Directions in Layered, Anisotropic Materials
Abstract: Layered and 2D materials are currently one of the most well-studied classes of solid-state compounds, due to the plethora of unique physical phenomena found in these materials coupled with advances in the characterization of structure and properties down to the single layer scale. Here, we will describe our recent work in the synthesis, properties, and applications of layered materials that exhibit n-type conduction and p-type conduction simultaneously across different crystallographic directions. Recently, we discovered that NaSn2As2, a 2D van der Waals material, simultaneously exhibits p-type conduction along the in-plane direction and n-type behavior along the cross-plane direction, a phenomenon we define as “goniopolarity”. We will establish the origin of this exotic behavior as well as the chemical design principles for creating new goniopolar materials, which has allowed us to significantly expand the number of materials that exhibit this phenomenon. Finally, considering that almost all modern electronic devices require the integration of p-type and n-type regions for functionality, we will show that the unique charge separation in goniopolar materials can overcome limitations of energy-harvesting technologies ranging from thermoelectrics to photocatalysis.

Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Javier Read De Alaniz
2022-09-29 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Read de Alaniz Flyer
Title: Simplifying Synthesis With Chemistry
Abstract: Photons have multiple enabling advantages to control chemical reactions, processes and stimuli-responsive materials. In this seminar, I will discuss our groups effort to design and develop a new class of negative photochromic molecules termed DASA, their incorporation into materials and subsequent effort to unlock their unique potential as multi-stage photoswitches.

Organic Student Seminar 248: Jason Wang
2022-10-03 15:00 - 15:50 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: David Waldeck
2022-10-03 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof. Waldeck Flyer
Adventures with Chiral Induced Spin Selectivity
Abstract: Abstract: Since Louis Pasteur, chemists have been fascinated by chirality, however its connection with electron spin was not realized until the 21st century and its implications for chemistry and biochemistry is only beginning to be revealed. I will discuss chiral induced spin selectivity (CISS), which refers to the fact that charge polarization and charge transfer in chiral molecules (and materials) is accompanied by spin polarization and spin transfer. After I introduce some of the seminal works on CISS as background, I will describe some of our recent studies that investigate the implications of CISS in chemistry. I will describe experiments that probe the spin-dependence of electronic interaction with chiral molecules and spin selectivity in electron transfer reactions. In addition, I will show that chiral electrodes can be used to improve the selectivity of electrochemical reactions which involve radical intermediates.

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar 278: Joseph W. Kolis
2022-10-05 16:00 - 17:15 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Prof. Joseph W. Kolis Flyer
Meet the Speaker: 11 a.m., YH 3096
Title: Hydrothermal Synthesis of Metal Vanadates: From Lasers to Frustrated Magnets and Maybe Even Some Quantum Materials
Abstract: The high-temperature hydrothermal method (with temperatures 5-700˚C, pressures 200MPa) can be an excellent route to new materials, often in the form of large, high-quality single crystals. This talk will focus on the transition metal vanadates as a test bed for of this experimental method. The evolution from metal vanadate crystals as laser hosts to low dimensional magnetic structures to long-range frustration will be traced. The use of neutron diffraction to determine the magnetic structures of these materials will be discussed, and the value of hydrothermal single crystal growth in this class of materials will be highlighted.

Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Phil Baran
2022-10-06 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof. Baran Flyer
Title: Simplifying Synthesis with Electricity
Abstract: Organic synthesis is one of the great branches of Chemistry that has had a profound impact on the betterment and advancement of civilization. In its most modern manifestations, it renders the dream of alchemy (turning something worthless into something valuable) a reality. It places the practitioner into the role of artist, engineer, and astronaut. Thus, advances in this field are inherently of interest to a broad audience. Predicting the specific developments that will alter the course of this field is difficult. This talk will use case-studies from our lab to demonstrate how one of the oldest and least expensive reagents on Earth, electrons, can facilitate new retrosynthetic disconnections and aid in the pursuit of simple, ideal solutions to longstanding challenges.

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar 278: Van Sara Thoi
2022-10-12 16:00 - 17:15 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Prof. Van Sara Thoi Flyer
Meet the Speaker: 11 a.m., YH 3096
Title: Designing Functional Sites in Porous Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion
Abstract: Despite their high theoretical specific energy of 2,600 Wh kg-1, the commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries is hindered by irreversible capacity loss from the dissolution of polysulfide intermediates in the electrolyte solution. We report novel strategies to design reactive sites for polysulfide adsorption in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to improve capacity retention and ionic conductivity. Incorporation of redox-active moieties in the framework further enable fast charge and discharge capabilities. These design elements ultimately enhance the charge storage ability and cycle life of the batteries. In addition, we present new methods to convert carbon dioxide to value-added products electrochemically. The introduction of charged organic additives to the electrolyte allows fine control over the interfacial proton concentration, leading to high carbon product selectivity. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of carbon dioxide as a feedstock for electrochemical C-N coupling. Our work demonstrates the importance of precisely engineered electrolyte-electrode interfaces for selective activation and transformation of small molecules.

Organic Student Seminar 248: Erin Bucci
2022-10-17 15:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Christy Landes
2022-10-17 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof. Landes Flyer
Title: Towards Predictive Protein Separations: Imaging Protein Dynamics at Nanoscale Interfaces
Abstract: Recent efforts by our group and others have shown the promise of applying single molecule methods to link mechanistic detail about protein adsorption to macroscale observables. When we study one molecule at a time, we eliminate ensemble averaging, thereby accessing underlying heterogeneity. However, we must develop new methods to increase information content in the resulting low density and low signal-to-noise data and to improve space and time resolution.
I will highlight recent advances in super-resolution microscopy for quantifying the physics and chemistry that occur between target proteins and stationary phase supports during chromatographic separations. My discussion will concentrate on the newfound ability of super-resolved single protein spectroscopy to inform theoretical parameters via quantification of adsorption-desorption dynamics, protein unfolding, and nano-confined transport. Additionally, I will discuss using phase manipulation to encode temporal and 3D spatial information, and the opportunities and challenges associated with such imaging methods.

Special Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Vahid Sandoghdar
2022-10-19 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Vahid Sandoghdar Flyer
Title: Ultrasensitive Analysis of Nano-Matter via Scattering: From Single Proteins and Viruses to Sub-Cellular Features
Abstract: The last two decades have witnessed the insatiable potential of optical techniques for sensitive studies. Optical detection of small nanoparticles and single molecules have often relied on fluorescence, but limited photophysics and the need for labeling pose severe restrictions for the broad application of this approach. The ubiquitous process of Rayleigh scattering offers a powerful alternative. Although the common intuition might be that detection of individual nanoparticles and single molecules is not within reach via the measurement of their Rayleigh scattering, interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy introduced in 2004 has demonstrated the contrary. Indeed, it is
now possible to reach a remarkable sensitivity in real-time detection down to single unlabeled proteins as light as 10 kDa. In this presentation, I will discuss the most recent advances in iSCAT analysis, including new applications to in nanoparticle sizing and three-dimensional imaging and tracking of sub-cellular structures in live cells.

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar 278: Charles H. Wallace
2022-10-19 16:00 - 17:15 | Mol Sci 3440, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Dr. Charles H. Wallace
Title: The Role of Chemistry in Advanced Patterning of Semiconductor Devices
Abstract: The presentation will introduce lithography and advanced patterning to construct transistors and interconnects for semiconductor device manufacturing followed by a discussion of the various inorganic chemicals and materials used in the manufacturing process. Some of the key topics of discussion will include the scaling of transistors and the role of the minimum resolution of lithography equipment (Rayleigh’s equation). A summary of historical scaling will be reviewed and a description of future research and development that is required to continue scaling into the future. The importance of chemistry and impact of chemistry on the manufacturing process and applications will be described. The introduction of EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography into the semiconductor patterning process has enabled some simplification of process architecture; however, has not decreased edge-placement-error (EPE) margin enough to keep up with the pitch scaling requirements. Chemical selectivity is the most effective way to avoid EPE-caused failures on devices which lead to poor yield. Area Selective Deposition (ASD) solutions include development of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and selective ALD/CVD growth. Finally, the talk will conclude with a description of the careers available in the semiconductor device manufacturing industry with an emphasis on research and development at Intel Corporation.

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar 278: Michael Schulz
2022-10-20 14:00 - 15:15 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: TBD
Title: TBD
Abstract: TBD

Organic Syntheses - UCLA Lectureship: Sarah Reisman
2022-10-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer TBA
Title TBA
Abstract TBA

Special Organic Colloquium: Dr. Jake Yeston
2022-10-21 13:30 - 14:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Jake Yeston Seminar Flyer
Title: Scientific Publishing From The Inside Out
Abstract: For 140 years, Science Magazine has presented a weekly selection of the finest research across the full spectrum of scientific disciplines. Our goal remains to keep scientists well-informed about important developments within and also beyond their own fields of research, and to encourage collaborative thinking. This talk will discuss how the staff at Science engages the research community all over the world to determine which papers to publish, and also how we envision maintaining and enhancing our value to the community in the rapidly evolving publication landscape.
Speaker Bio: Jake Yeston joined the staff at Science in 2004, with responsibilities to edit and coordinate review for original research submissions in chemistry and overlapping segments of biochemistry and applied physics. In his current role as Editor, he oversees all research content in the physical sciences and helps set journal policy, with a particular focus on improving data archiving practices. Prior to arriving at Science, Jake earned an AB in chemistry from Harvard University in 1996, working with Eric Jacobsen, and then a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California-Berkeley in 2001 under Bob Bergman and Brad Moore, with a focus on infrared flash kinetics of rhodium-mediated C-H activation. He conducted postdoctoral research in ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy, first with Karl Kompa at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics in Garching, Germany on a Humboldt fellowship, and then with Ted Heilweil as a National Research Council fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Special Materials Chemistry Seminar: Sandrine Ithurria
2022-10-21 16:00 - 17:00

Organic Student Seminar 248: Jordan Gonzalez
2022-10-24 15:00 - 15:50 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Steven Schwartz
2022-10-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Schwartz Flyer
Title: Rare Event Sampling, Protein Dynamics in Enzymatic Catalysis and Directed Evolution: Lessons in Artificial Enzyme Design
Abstract: Remarkably, after many decades of study, the way enzymes so magnificently catalyze chemical reactions is still a matter of significant debate. In addition, artificial protein catalyst design has proven elusive. Years ago, we proposed the concept of the “promoting vibration,” a rapid protein motion which is a central part of the reaction coordinate and hence the mechanism of chemistry and reaction rate enhancement. Over the years, these motions have been found by a variety of groups in a variety of enzymes that catalyze diverse chemical reactions. In addition to theoretical work, experimental work has strongly supported this concept.More recently we have examined the development of such motions in laboratory evolved enzymes, finding initial protein designs lacking in such motions followed by appearance via the evolution process. These developments suggest that at least one of the reasons for the failure of theoretical enzyme design to create functional catalysts has been a focus on the creation of only static structures that are complementary to transition states. This talk will first briefly review early work on the discovery of promoting vibrations along with our Transition Path Sampling methods and reaction coordinate identification algorithms. We will then discuss how evolution introduces promoting vibrations and how this creates functional catalysts. We will finally speculate on how such ideas may be introduced into de novo enzyme design

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar 278: Chong Liu
2022-10-26 16:00 - 17:15 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
