Chemical biology Ph.D. candidate AJ Addae (P. Weiss/Caram groups), founder of SULA LABS, was named a $100,000 co–grand prize winner of musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize Competition. SULA LABS was recognized for its achievements in designing and clinically testing cosmetic products for several beauty brands found in Sephora, Ulta, Target, and other […]

The UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry ranks among the world’s research leaders, according to the 2025 ScholarGPS global rankings, with UCLA placing No. 4 worldwide overall for lifetime scholarly impact across all fields and No. 6 globally in chemistry. These rankings are based on analyses of tens of millions of scholars, publications, and citations […]

Professors Neil Garg, Ken Houk and Yi Tang have received a $2 million research grant from the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) to advance the study of cannabinoid-based therapeutics. The two-year award, titled “Cannabinoid Therapeutics: Synthesis, Binding, Safety, and Computations,” supports an interdisciplinary effort to develop new and rare cannabinoids, evaluate their biological activity […]

A recent publication from Professor Richard Kaner’s group has been selected for the 2025 Chemical Science Editor’s Choice Collection, a curated set of notable research papers in batteries and energy storage from the past two years. Each year, Chemical Science highlights a small number of influential studies that represent significant advances in their fields. This […]

Alumnus and Kaner group researcher Dr. Maher El-Kady (Ph.D. ’13) is one of two UCLA innovators elected to the National Academy of Inventors. From UCLA Newsroom (By Todd Schindler): Innovating to serve the world: UCLA researchers elected to National Academy of Inventor Innovation is woven into the DNA of UCLA, where researchers are working each […]

New faculty member Professor Kalli Kappel uncovers molecular rules that govern how cells organize themselves. By Benjamin Paul (UCLA Division of Physical Sciences) A team of scientists at UCLA has uncovered new insights into how cells organize themselves at the molecular level, revealing fundamental rules that govern the formation of mysterious cellular structures and opening […]

New faculty member Professor Thomas Fay examines how electron spin could influence molecular handedness on early Earth. By Benjamin Paul (UCLA Division of Physical Sciences) Thomas Fay is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and one of the newest faculty members to join UCLA Physical Sciences. He is part of a rising cohort of researchers whose […]

On Dec. 8, 2025, the UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry community gathered in the Hershey Hall Salon and Courtyard for the department’s annual Winter Holiday Celebration. The event featured a jazz trio from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and raffle prizes were awarded every half hour. A dessert contest rounded out the […]