The UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has announced that Professor Osvaldo Gutierrez will be the inaugural holder of the Fraser and Norma Stoddart Chair in Contemporary Chemistry, effective July 1, 2026.
Before his passing in 2024, Nobel Laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart made a generous gift to UCLA to establish the Fraser and Norma Stoddart Chair in Contemporary Chemistry. The goal of the donation was to create a full chair in the UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry to recruit an organic chemist who is engaged in forward-looking science, as Sir Fraser did throughout his illustrious career. The Stoddart Chair appointment is for a five-year term, with opportunities for renewal.
“Fraser Stoddart’s impact on our department is profound,” said Department Chair Professor Alex Spokoyny. “His legacy of creativity, mentorship, and scientific excellence continues to shape generations of chemists at UCLA and around the world. We are deeply grateful to Fraser, his family, and the many alumni and friends whose generosity made this inaugural endowed chair possible. Their commitment ensures that Fraser’s spirit of innovation lives on in our community. I am especially thrilled that this endowed chairship played a pivotal role in recruiting Osvaldo to UCLA. His cutting-edge contributions to organic chemistry embody the bold and imaginative work that Fraser championed, and we are excited to see how he will continue advancing the field.”
A UCLA alumnus, Gutierrez earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from UCLA in 2009. As an undergraduate, he conducted research with Professor Kendall Houk. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Davis, in 2012, working under Professor Dean J. Tantillo.
Following his doctoral studies, Gutierrez began his academic career at the University of Maryland–College Park in 2016 and was then recruited to Texas A&M University, where he served as a professor of chemistry. In 2025, he returned to UCLA to join the faculty as a professor of chemistry.
Gutierrez’s research focuses on mechanistically guided approaches to designing and developing new catalytic and environmentally friendly chemical transformations that can reduce the cost of producing medicines, which may help to yield better health outcomes nationally and globally.
In addition to his research, Gutierrez is a strong advocate for fostering more welcoming and inclusive environments in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). As part of that mission, Gutierrez serves as the inaugural Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) Senior Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Faculty STEM Director for UCLA.
Gutierrez was recently featured in an in-depth article about his personal background on the Division of Physical Sciences website. He grew up herding goats in rural Mexico, immigrated to the United States as a child, and overcame significant obstacles as an undocumented student to become a UCLA-trained chemist and faculty member.
Earlier this year, Gutierrez was awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) by President Biden. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers.
Gutierrez was also recently featured in a new UCLA College Research Powers Progress video, which highlights his research and its importance to UCLA’s mission.
Sir Fraser Stoddart was a Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UCLA from 1997 to 2008, before joining Northwestern University as the Board of Trustees Professor of Chemistry. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which he shared with Jean-Pierre Sauvage of the University of Strasbourg and Bernard Feringa of the University of Groningen. During his time at UCLA, Sir Fraser was deeply supported by his wife, Norma, who played a crucial role in his success. A brilliant biochemist herself, Norma was an indispensable partner in both Sir Fraser’s personal and professional life. Sadly, Norma passed away in 2004 after a long battle with cancer.
The department is currently matching gifts added to the original gift made by Sir Fraser. The interest from this endowment will be used by the chairholder for their research interests, including support for graduate students and postdocs, and for activities to honor the memory of Fraser Stoddart. To learn how to contribute, please visit here.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
