Catherine F. Clarke named department chair

Posted on

Clarke Cathy

Professor Catherine F Clarke has been named the next chair of the UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry effective July 1, 2016.

In his announcement of the appointment dean of Physical Sciences Joseph Rudnick said of Clarke “She brings commitment, an unwavering set of principles and a deep sense of humanity to this most crucial position. I am confident that she will provide inspired leadership to the Department over the period of her service.” Clarke is the first woman to hold the post.  

Clarke has been a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 1993. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at UCLA. Her Ph.D. studies focused on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism. She was a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University. Clarke returned to UCLA in the Department of Medicine and studied polyisoprene and non-sterol metabolism, and then initiated studies on coenzyme Q biosynthesis using the yeast model. In 1993 she joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Molecular Biology Institute. She was promoted to full professor in 2002. Clarke served as general chemistry advisor and biochemistry graduate student advisor before becoming vice chair for undergraduate education in July 2015. The focus of her current research is determining how cells synthesize coenzyme Q, and utilizing yeast to understand mechanisms of its inter- and intra-cellular transport, and elucidating functional roles. 

Clarke will succeed current chair Miguel Garcia-Garibay who will begin his new role as dean of the UCLA Division of Physical Sciences on July 1, 2016. The new vice chairs appointed by Clarke will be announced on July 1st.

To learn more about Clarke’s research, visit her website.