Chemical Biology Ph.D. student Glenn Nurwono (Park and Tang groups) is one of six students selected for the 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award for Teaching Assistants.
This award celebrates teaching assistants who demonstrate effective teaching that incorporates the best practices, aims to inspire and challenge students, and supports the success of all students. The award committee was greatly impressed by Nurwono’s innovative teaching methods and his ability to inspire and motivate learners, and he will be recognized at the annual Andrea L. Rich Night to Honor Teaching event in the Fall.
Nurwono received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he was a student researcher in the groups of Professor Alisa Huffaker and Professor Mike Burkart. In the Huffaker group, his research focused on studying different volatile compounds that plants make during their immune responses, and in the Burkart group, he studied a bioproduction of polyurethane for sustainability. After graduating from UCSD in 2021, Nurwono worked for a half a year in industry at Viridos, where he engineered algae for biofuel production. Inspired by the professional experiences of his colleagues, Nurwono decided to return to school to pursue advanced studies in chemistry.
Nurwono joined UCLA’s chemical biology graduate program in 2021, working in the groups of Professor Jun Park (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) and Professor Yi Tang (Chemistry & Biochemistry). His research uses chemical and biological tools to discover and engineer the metabolism of the industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, uncovering new pathways and interfaces between chemistry, biology, and engineering.
“What truly distinguishes Glenn is his thoughtful approach to teaching as a craft and his sustained initiative to grow beyond the classroom,” says Nurwono’s co-advisor Professor Yi Tang. “He actively pursues pedagogical training in writing, inclusive teaching, and research mentorship, and applies these insights to improve his teaching practice. This commitment culminates in his independent design of a Clusters Seminar this spring, which emphasizes science communication for an interdisciplinary student audience. His initiative to seek out and integrate these opportunities alongside his research and teaching reflects a deep dedication to undergraduate education and a clear ability to implement student-centered pedagogical approaches.”
Like research, Nurwono sees teaching as a tool to advance the study of chemistry. Inspiring the next generation means continuing the innovation and evolution of science for several years to come. Nurwono recently designed the curriculum for and taught a Clusters class called “Meat the Future,” where he introduced undergraduate first-year students to emerging biotechnologies in food, helping students see the relevance of chemistry in their everyday lives and making the subject more accessible to those outside of STEM.
Beyond the lab and classroom, Nurwono is a member of the Departmental Leadership in Climate (DLC), where he helps run events for the department community, such as organizing free yoga classes for students, faculty, and staff to join. He is also a mentor in the DLC IGNITE mentorship program, helping students navigate through academics, research, careers, and more.
One of Nurwono’s longest commitments on campus is the annual Exploring Your Universe (EYU) fair, a graduate student-run event open to the public. Since joining the Organizing Committee in 2021, Nurwono has contributed by recruiting faculty speakers, coordinating campus organizations and labs for booths, and improving accessibility by revamping the event website. Since then, EYU has expanded significantly from the Court of Sciences to several locations across campus.
Nurwono hopes to continue pursuing undergraduate teaching opportunities beyond his PhD, applying the same research mindset he brings to the bench to questions about how students learn and engage with science. He looks forward to a postdoctoral path and ultimately a teaching-focused academic career where he can continue inspiring undergraduates to find meaning and relevance in chemistry.
Article and headshot by Isabella Luo, isaluo196@ucla.edu.
Class photos by Penny Jennings, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
