Dr. Evan Darzi, a postdoctoral researcher alumnus of the Garg group, has been named a recipient of the 2025 ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Early Career Investigator Award.
The purpose of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Early Career Investigator (ECI) Award program is to recognize scientists who are no more than 10 years from graduate school or postdoctoral appointment and are a current researcher in a non-academic setting who have demonstrated significant accomplishments and outstanding promise for future contributions to the field. Darzi is being recognized for his accomplishments at ElectraTect, Inc., a start-up company he co-founded based on some of his UCLA research.
After earning his Ph.D. degree in chemistry in 2016 from the University of Oregon under the guidance of Professor Ramesh Jasti, Darzi came to UCLA as an NIH postdoctoral scholar, working with Professor Neil Garg. Darzi was highly productive in graduate school and during his postdoctoral studies, having produced ~20 publications and several patents.
“Evan was one of the most productive and exciting coworkers I have ever mentored in my career,” Professor Neil Garg said. “He is not only brilliant, but also has a fearless, visionary approach to science. What Evan has achieved following his time at UCLA is nothing short of remarkable and I congratulate him on his well-deserved receipt of the ECI Award.”
At UCLA, one of Darzi’s many accomplishments was the development of a simple method to detect Δ⁹-THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. This work ultimately led to several patents and publications, and Darzi went on to co-found ElectraTect, Inc. He served as the company’s CEO before it was acquired by Mindr in December of 2023. He currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer where he is developing marijuana breathalyzer technology. For current information about the company and technology, please visit recenTHC.com.
Darzi’s Δ⁹-THC innovation addresses a significant societal challenge. The widespread legalization and decriminalization of marijuana across the U.S. has underscored the need for viable methods to test for recency of cannabis use. While alcohol detection methods have been well-established for decades, marijuana testing has lagged behind and is far more complex. Common approaches (e.g., urine testing) often fail to detect recent use and can result in unfair punitive consequences for individuals who are no longer impaired. Although legal challenges can sometimes overturn these outcomes, the high cost of legal representation creates inequities, disproportionately affecting those with fewer resources.
Motivated by this issue, Darzi wishes to develop a method to detect THC in a way analogous to how an alcohol breathalyzer functions. Darzi’s first major discovery in this area was done at UCLA, where he identified a reaction of THC that could be translated into detection technology. This breakthrough provided a key proof-of-concept, leading to a first-author publication and several patents.
Given the potential applications of this discovery, Darzi and Garg co-founded ElectraTect in 2020. Remarkably, as CEO, Darzi launched the company, built a team of scientists, and created the first cannabinoid fuel cell—all within the span of a single year. In other words, he demonstrated that THC could be used as a fuel to generate an electrical current—an approach rooted in his earlier reaction and conceptually analogous to alcohol fuel cells. This discovery has led to publications, additional intellectual property, and widespread media coverage.
Currently, Darzi and his coworkers are further advancing the technology for human use. The potential applications are numerous.
In addition to his research, Darzi is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In his leadership role at ElectraTect, he launched a Diversity in STEM lecture series in Phoenix, where the company is based, as well as the annual Unlimited Potential Awards, which honor high school and college students for their achievements in scientific excellence, diversity, and inclusivity. During his time in the Garg lab, he also co-authored an organic chemistry coloring book for adults.
Darzi has received many awards and recognitions, including a 2024 RSC Horizon Prize for research, a 2021 RSC Horizon Prize for Education, and a 2019 UCLA Postdoctoral Research Award.
Prior ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Early Career Investigator awardees from UCLA include Ph.D. alumni Gregg Barcan, 2023 (Kwon group), Kyle Quasdorf, 2023 (Garg group), and Ted Johnson, 2011 (Jung group).
About Mindr
Mindr is a national leader in substance detection, monitoring, and safety solutions. Its portfolio of trusted brands includes Intoxalock, Breathe Easy Insurance, Keepr, DUI.org, and ADS Interlock. Mindr is focused on empowering individuals and institutions with the tools to make better decisions and create safer communities. The company is backed by L Catterton, a global private equity firm with more than $34 billion in assets under management.
For more information, visit mindr.com.
