Welcome to Our Department

chemistry and biochemistry today

AREAS OF RESEARCH: Analytical Chemistry Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioenergy and the Environment Biophysics Chemical Biology Inorganic Chemistry Materials and Nanoscience Metabolism, Aging and Development Organic Chemistry Physical Chemistry Structural and Computational Biology Systems Biology and Biological Regulation Theory and Computational Chemistry

607 Charles E. Young Drive East Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569 Tel: 310.825.3958 www.chemistry.ucla.edu Medical/Healthcare Other

MORE THAN Postdoctoral Research 3% 7% 12% 21000 welcome to UNDERGRADS Consulting 1% ENROLL IN Law/Patent/Financial 3% Where are 37% Industry Research OUR CLASSES our department our Alumni? EACH YEAR STUDENT 20% EVALUATIONS Academic OF INSTRUCTORS Research & Teaching 6% AVERAGE “One thing that is really phenomenal 11% Teaching at College/University about the department is the number 7.6 and the diversity of the undergraduate Research at University/Government Lab ON A SCALE OF 9.0

majors that we have.“ Tracking the success of our Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) Ph.D. PH.D. alumni helps us monitor the success of our graduate programs and stay in touch with our successful alumni. 2 PROGRAMS: Active Chemistry and BMSB faculty tracked their Ph.D. alumni (1981-2016) N = 736. (Out of 776, 40 were unknown). Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) Chemistry exciting, engaging, and appropriate so that incoming first- Generous supporters have established six new endowed s chair, I am proud to introduce you to all that year students feel, “I can do this!” To that end, resources chairs that recognize the contributions of some of our makes up the Department of Chemistry & including our brand new organic chemistry labs and terrifically talented faculty. These chairs allow us to retain CHEMISTRY PH.D. SPECIALIZATIONS: A Biochemistry at UCLA. For almost 100 years, we forthcoming Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory in and recruit the very best faculty. (“The Impact of Giving” 8 have been a department driven by the possibilities of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry will provide on pages 8 & 9.) Analytical/Instrumentation breaking through boundaries to improve quality of life, Biophysics students of all levels space to spark new ideas by studying We aim to make the science that we do accessible to a create cutting-edge collaborations, and defy expectations and working together. wide audience. Greater understanding, appreciation, Chemical Biology about who can study science and how they learn. A positive student experience results in alumni passionate and support begin with giving K-12 students access to Inorganic This publication is a glimpse of the life-changing work about giving back, and we are proud that our department scientific education. Our faculty and students excel in Materials being done within our department, from providing emerging has so many generous alumni. And there are so many ways the kind of off-campus outreach that sparks an interest Organic undergraduate scientists with hands-on research opportu- to give back! Graduates of our department return faithfully that can last a lifetime, cultivating forthcoming genera- Physical nities to connecting our faculty’s scientific discoveries to to share their advice and professional guidance with current tions of students who then become scientists. (“Making Theory and Computation commercial fulfillment. students, such as those in our Careers in Chemistry & Science Accessible” on pages 12 & 13.) Biochemistry course. (“Alumni Give Back” on pages 6 & 7.) Visions for our department encompass initiatives that offer One thing that I think is really phenomenal about the KEY ROLES IN students the highest quality faculty, curriculum, facilities, Awards and fellowships made possible by our donors department is the number and the diversity of the under- MULTIPLE CENTERS and research opportunities; support a pipeline that channels recognize and develop the strengths of our students in graduate majors that we have. This is a hallmark of UCLA. AND INSTITUTES AT research out of our labs and into the commercial sector research and teaching. These awards have a big impact More than 50% of our undergraduate majors are women, UCLA, INCLUDING: to improve quality of life; and provide outreach to the next on a burgeoning resume or CV. In many cases, it’s hard to astonishing for a STEM field. We’re getting a cohort of California NanoSystems generation of students and the public at large. choose who receives an award! This was a big impetus students from Hispanic backgrounds, and students who Institute (CNSI) A career in science begins with a transformative undergraduate for the development of new funds like the Daniel E. Atkinson are the first in their families to attend college. UCLA as Center for Biological experience. Our dynamic faculty connect with our youngest & Charles A. West Prizes in Metabolic Biochemistry. a public institution is doing a great job in this regard, and Physics (CBP) we want to make it even better by continuing to make students to hone their curiosity and develop their talents. Given the depth of our faculty and the opportunities they Institute for Quantitative Further expanding our educational reach is the Departmental present for graduate students to expand their research our teaching accessible so that everyone does well. and Computational Teacher-Scholar program, whereby recent graduate students prowess, we’re hoping to develop more graduate student Whether you are a curious visitor or a prospective Biosciences (QCB) from institutions across the country are selected for a fellowships. Right now, gifts have an even greater impact student, postdoc, or faculty member, we welcome you Jonsson Comprehensive competitive residency program that combines educational thanks to a departmental match made possible by funds from to learn more about the remarkable people who make Cancer Center (JCCC) instruction and research. For undergraduates, the immediate the patent of a compound developed by organic chemistry up our department and are the heart of the life-changing Mani L. Bhaumik Institute The UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry is the home connection of being taught by a recent Ph.D. graduate is a professor Dr. Michael Jung, whose work led to the life-saving work being conducted daily in our classrooms and labs. u for Theoretical Physics significant inspiration. (“Empowering Undergraduates” on of 2018 Robert Foster Cherry Award recipient Prof. Neil Garg, prostate cancer medication Xtandi. Our donor funds enable UCLA-Department of who received one of the nation’s highest commendations for great pages 2 & 3.) us to welcome prospective students on visits, help us recruit, Energy (DOE) Institute teaching and its $250,000 prize. For those thousands of undergrads who begin their support our seminar series, and provide for endowed Catherine F. Clarke, Professor and Chair, for Genomics and Proteomics (IGP) exploration of chemistry with us, we want our labs to be lectures to bring innovative visitors to campus. Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA 1 Not only is summer research experience typically one of the SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOW SPOTLIGHT most meaningful parts of an undergraduate education, it “My summer internship allowed me to distinguish the also enables students to pursue science research rather than empowering difference between being a student and being a sci- having to accept a summer job in an unrelated field. For many entist,” said Omar Ebrahim, an undergraduate student students, experiencing research in a lab is a real game-changer studying chemistry and materials science with a focus – many who previously thought they were headed to pharmacy, in organics, who conducted summer research in Prof. medical, or dental school realize how exciting research is and Heather Maynard’s laboratory. “There is a tremendous begin to consider research as a career. By conducting research undergraduates difference between learning from a textbook and ac- during the summer, students gain skills that help them in their tually struggling with the enigmatic mess that inhabits lab courses, and, as a result, they excel in classes they may the flasks within my chemical fume hood. My research has been difficult to define, but that have previously dreaded. They develop a network of friends struggle has allowed me to truly develop my identity as a researcher, someone who tries and colleagues who can be very helpful when looking for to give definition to something unknown instead of simply memorizing existing definitions. employment and discovering other opportunities. 24 new state-of-the-art glass 360- Without the help of my department and the Raymond & Dorothy Wilson Foundation, I degree visibility hoods now provide HOSTING VISITING UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS would still be lost as an intellectual.” undergraduate students with a safe, Each summer, our faculty host visiting undergraduate “Mentoring Omar has been fantastic,” said Ebrahim’s mentor graduate student Marco scholars from local community colleges and universities Messina. “He is a hard-working undergraduate researcher who has his hands in many cutting-edge educational experience. and from colleges from around the world through summer different projects, which has enabled him to gain a wide-ranging skill set. His growth as a research programs and international exchange programs. researcher in the chemical sciences has been exponential – I am proud to witness this first- For eight to ten weeks the students work with UCLA faculty, hand. Omar is involved in research at the interface of polymer chemistry, synthetic organic graduate students, and postdocs to experience first-hand chemistry, and organometallic chemistry and is developing methods and tools which can the excitement of conducting academic research in Bruin be utilized in a variety of fields. As we are currently preparing a manuscript, Omar even has ach year, thousands of undergraduate students come labs. Their visits culminate with a summer research program his first publication submission to look forward to in the coming months!” through chemistry and biochemistry poster session. Above: Raymond and E classes, making our department one of the most In 2015, we began to participate in the University of California UCLA CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD- Dorothy Wilson visited departments on campus with a big impact on -Historically Black Colleges and Universities (UC-HBCU) UATES MENTORED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR the student experience. Undergraduate Summer Initiative and since then have hosted more than 16 HBCU Summer is not the only time that undergraduates conduct Research Fellow Omar students for summer research. The goal of the visiting STATE-OF-THE-ART UNDERGRADUATE research in faculty labs. On average, we have 100 undergrad- Ebrahim (left) with summer researcher programs is to introduce bright under- Above: In the newly renovated RESEARCH LABORATORIES uates conducting research in our faculty labs throughout graduate student mentor undergraduate organic graduates to UCLA, give them an opportunity to engage in the year. These students are one of our most valuable assets. Marco Messina (right), chemistry laboratory, Prof. Hosea One of the department’s key goals is to increase our enroll- ground-breaking science, prepare them for graduate school, After graduating, many are accepted to our Ph.D. programs both in Prof. Heather Nelson (center) demonstrates ment capacities so that we can provide a greater opportunity and attract them back for their graduate research. so that they can continue their research. u Maynard’s laboratory. the new hood to undergraduate for students to take challenging classes that are necessary students Michelle Musso (left) preparation for their future professional endeavors. Funding and Jaha McClean (right). from the UCLA Chancellor’s office helped renovate our two Left: Biochemistry undergraduate lower division organic laboratories. 24 new state-of-the-art student Emma Carley (right) glass 360-degree visibility hoods now provide undergraduate conducts research year-round in students with a safe, cutting-edge educational experience. the laboratory of Prof. Margot The renovations support innovative new undergraduate Quinlan. She discussed her laboratory curricula developed by Profs. Neil Garg and Hosea research with lab mate graduate student Aanand Patel. Nelson. Graduate students Lucas Morrill (Garg laboratory) and Alex Bagdasarian (Nelson laboratory) played key roles in de- At a poster session for 1 2 3 4 5 visiting summer researchers, signing experiments for the revamped courses. The courses University of California- are being co-taught with and further enhanced by Teacher- Scholars Dr. Jacquelin Kammeyer and Dr. Shuming Chen. Historically Black Colleges THE BOYER/CRAM/LIBBY POSTDOCTORAL TEACHER-SCHOLAR PROGRAM and Universities (UC-HBCU) scholar Norman Harris II of LIFE-CHANGING SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS Our Boyer/Cram/Libby Postdoctoral Teacher-Scholars 2. Jacquelin Kammeyer / B.A. in biochemistry, Indiana 4. Rachel Prado / B.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry, Howard University explained teach undergraduate chemistry or biochemistry his work in the Houk University; Ph.D. in chemistry, University of California, University of Alabama-Birmingham • Research on Our undergraduate summer research fellowship program courses each academic year while conducting post- San Diego • Research on development of protein conjugating nanodiamonds with different functional laboratory to Prof. Albert offers UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry undergraduates the doctoral research with a sponsoring faculty member. polymer conjugates for the stabilization of therapeutic groups, peptides and proteins, as well as characteriza- Courey, associate dean for opportunity to carry out research with a chemistry or bio- The positions honor UCLA Chemistry and Biochem- proteins with Prof. Heather Maynard. tion of nanodiamond surface chemistry, with diversity, equity, and istry Department Nobel Laureates Paul D. Boyer, chemistry faculty mentor during the summer. These fellow- Prof. Louis Bouchard. inclusion in the UCLA Donald J. Cram, and Willard F. Libby. 3. Zhao Li / B.S. in polymer science, Sichuan ships are made possible thanks to the support of our alumni University; Ph.D. in physical chemistry, UCLA • 5. Roshini Ramachandran / B.S. in chemistry, Madras Division of Physical Sciences. 1. Shuming Chen / B.A. in chemistry, Grinnell College; and friends. Thanks to increased donor support, 25 of these Research on early cancer detection and targeted University; master’s in applied chemistry, Anna Ph.D. in organic chemistry, Yale University • Research University; Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry, University students received departmental summer fellowships in 2017. therapy by magnetic resonance molecular imaging on the elucidation of mechanisms for stereoselective and nano theranostics with Prof. Yung-Ya Lin. of Georgia, Athens • Research on 2D and 3D hybrid This was almost double what we have had in previous years. chemical transformations with Prof. Ken Houk. boron-rich polymers with Prof. Alex Spokoyny.

2 CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA 3 a new The latest Chemistry & generation Biochemistry hires are ready Ellen Sletten to inspire and empower the iology. Chemistry. Nanoscience. Photo- her year-and-a-half old lab with students of all next generation of scientists. physics. Ellen Sletten – John McTague Career levels. “My undergraduate research experiences of teaching BDevelopment Chair in Chemistry & Biochem- were critical for my path to graduate school,” istry and 2018 Sloan Research Fellow – brings it all she says. “Without that, I would not be where I together in her lab. Students, too, are drawn from am. It’s natural to want to be able to provide that across disciplines by her work with fluorinated experience for others.” materials that create better ways for physicians to “I really appreciate that Ellen has gone every step “My goal is to turn identify disease sites so as to eliminate them with of the way with us since we got to the lab,” says Chemical & precision while leaving healthy tissue alone. graduate student Rachael Day. Summer graduate [students] into Engineering News Sletten, who received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from researcher Shreya Patel added, “There aren’t scientists and give “My undergraduate research the University of California, Berkeley, and was an many professors who are female, so it helps a lot named Nelson NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts because one day I want to be a professor. It’s nice them enough that they experiences were critical ... Institute of Technology, has very intentionally filled to have that role model.” one of their Talented can go out and try to [I] want ... to provide that experience for others.” http://sletten.chem.ucla.edu/ 12 for his own understand what scientific daring. Chong Liu they’re looking at.” “Part of the reason ong before 2017, when he arrived His door is always open to Hosea Nelson at UCLA and was named one of the students from all circumstances, ithin two years of joining the Chemistry & Biochemistry we do science L year’s SN 10 by Science News, Chong faculty in 2015, Hosea Nelson and the graduate students [is] to translate Liu was inspired by his high school chem- whether they have research istry teacher. “He really motivated me. In Justin Caram W in his organic chemistry lab had their first publication in our research into addition, he taught me how to play bridge,” experience or not. Science. Their breakthrough turns light hydrocarbons like methane he says with a chuckle. t the crossroads of studying light, developing custom into more complex molecules, which could cheaply turn waste from something useful instruments, and materials chemistry is Justin Caram, oil and gas production into useful, safer end products. Liu earned his B.S. in chemistry from Fudan who focuses on how materials absorb or emit light, and for society.” University in China and a Ph.D. from Univer- A Nelson credits the innovation to his students, whom he calls adventure- ways that capacity can be used to develop new technologies from sity of California, Berkeley. While pursuing José Rodríguez some risk takers, adding, “That’s good for science, in my opinion.” solar cells to imaging inside living tissue. Chemical & Engineering News named him one of their Talented 12 the combination of his inorganic training hen José Rodríguez was named a 2017 Searle Scholar When Caram interviewed with the department before formally for his own scientific daring. with nanosystems and microbiology during and 2017 Beckman Young Investigator, and awarded joining, graduate student Hannah Friedman was excited about his a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, Liu funding for probing molecular structures at the atomic The former high school drop-out stumbled across chemistry while W research. “He gave his pitch and I was like, sold! I didn’t realize how helped to develop inorganic-bio hybrid scale, the Mexican-born son of migrant workers was grateful for yet sampling community college classes to discover a vocation. He interested I was in [physical chemistry] until I heard him talk about it.” systems that removed carbon dioxide from another opportunity to give back. worked his way through City College of San Francisco, then transferred the air ten times more efficiently than plants. Caram received his bachelor’s degree at Harvard and his Ph.D. to University of California, Berkeley, for his undergraduate degree. “Coming here and having all these opportunities, one on top of the from University of Chicago before heading to the Massachusetts A Ph.D. followed at California Institute of Technology. At UCLA, Liu is looking forward to collabo- other, getting educated, I feel like I owe a ton to this society,” he says. rating with his UCLA peers across research Institute of Technology for a postdoctoral fellowship. Describing Now, he’s committed to helping his students grow into problem solvers, boundaries. He is also eager to connect While pursuing an undergraduate degree, Ph.D., and postdoctoral how teaching students is his favorite part of the job, he says, both in the sciences and society. The newly-lauded 2018 Sloan Research first-generation college students like fellowship at UCLA, he found himself surrounded by passionate sci- “I enjoy going over the math and science and all these different Fellow and 2017 Packard Fellow – recognized as one of the nation’s most himself with opportunities. entists with a clear vision. They provided the motivation and bigger concepts and trying to download everything I know to them.” innovative early-career scientists and engineers – decided to come to picture perspective that keeps one going beyond setbacks – exact- Caram calls upon his own background when helping students find UCLA because of the broad scope of communities he’s able to reach out That bridge-playing role model gave Liu ly what Rodríguez decided he wanted to share when he became a their way. As an undergraduate, he drifted between majors from to as an educator. a strong belief in the power of teaching professor in the Chemistry & Biochemistry department. and the responsibility to reach out to and humanities to psychology before falling in love with chemistry. “I got really lucky,” he says. “I want to get to the point where I His lab works on refining tools with the potential to help cure educate the public as well as students, “and “My goal is to turn them into scientists and give them enough that can contribute.” neurodegenerative diseases and make research more accessible for not isolate,” he says. “In the end, it’s part of they can go out and try to understand what they’re looking at.” u

the reason we do science – to translate our scientists around the world, and his door is always open to students www.thenelsonlab.com research into something useful for society.” from all circumstances, whether they have research experience or https://justincaram.me not. Rodríguez says that has never stopped anybody. “If a great idea https://cliulab.com can come from anywhere, that means anyone is capable of coming up with great ideas.” u http://rodriguez.chem.ucla.edu

4 CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA 5 ALUMNI MAKING A DIFFERENCE Dr. Audree Fowler received of our underrepresented Each quarter, alumni her B.S. in chemistry from students and provide them UCLA in 1956 and was one with networking oppor- UCLA Chemistry of the first women to receive tunities that may impact a Ph.D. in biochemistry at their careers. OCDS was the & Biochemistry UCLA in 1963. Since she brainchild of Ortiz and Prof. alumni support give back retired as director of the Miguel García-Garibay, now UCLA Protein Micro- dean of the UCLA Division our students sequencing Facility, she of Physical Sciences. Thanks and share one has been a loyal supporter to Ortiz’s efforts, Proctor of the department and our & Gamble, the company of their most students. “The sciences he was working with at the valuable assets positive student experience at UCLA results in gave me a great life”, Fowler time, supported OCDS and alumni who are passionate about giving back. explained. “Now I want to helped it become a thriving – their time. A Each quarter, UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry alumni help others have access organization on campus support our students and share one of their most valuable to the same opportunities providing much needed assets – their time. I enjoyed.” In 2008, an support to hundreds of Since 2015, the Careers in Chemistry & Biochemistry (Chem endowment from Fowler students. OCDS organizes 147) course for undergraduate students has brought more than established the Audree community college outreach 50 alumni – including an astronaut, a patent lawyer, a craft Fowler Fellows in Protein events and a lecture series beer brewer, and many teachers and research scientists – back Science for Ph.D. students featuring speakers from to UCLA to share candid revelations about what they would in Biochemistry and traditionally underrepre- have done differently and what values result in success. Alumni Molecular Biology, the sented backgrounds across love returning to interact with our students and to share their Molecular Biology Interde- the sciences – many of wisdom! In fact, these interactions have turned into even more partmental Ph.D. Program, whom are were members opportunities for students when our alumni work with their and Biological Chemistry. of OCDS during their time employers to sponsor research fellowships, or when soon-to- Each year, three recipients at UCLA. be graduates are recruited for positions at a company by the are presented with awards UCLA alumni who work there. From top, left to right: Dr. Christina Baker, Global Materials of $5,000 each and they Technology Manager, PPG Aerospace; Dr. Gavin Jones, present their research at the The seminars are followed by a Q&A and a reception In 2016, alumna Dr. Elinne Research Staff member, IBM Research-Almaden; Blanca Annual Molecular Biology where students gain experience networking with the Becket, a scientist with Zymo Moreno, Chemistry Lead Lab Technician, Santa Monica Institute Retreat. speakers, faculty, and fellow students – a skill essential for Research Corporation, @ College; Dr. Nohjin Park, Medical Science Liaison, Sirtex arranged for her company professional development. Medical Limited; Dr. Tanya Kruse, Head of Manufacturing For a complete list to sponsor the Zymo Sciences-Fractionation, Shire; Dr. Elinne Becket, Scientist, A similar series geared towards biochemistry Ph.D. Research Fellowship for of all the Careers Zymo Research Corporation. students and hosted by the Graduate Biochemistry Student Alumnus Dr. Rafael Ortiz, undergraduate biochemistry in Chemistry Association (gBSA) debuted in 2017. At these summer intellectual property manag- major Cyrus Y. Jin which and Biochem- er at Michelman, Inc., helped made it possible for Jin to istry speakers, establish the Organization conduct research in the lab afternoon seminars, Biochemistry, Molecular and please visit www. From top, left to right: Dr. Bruce Morimoto, Vice President, Scientific of Cultural Diversity in of Prof. Steven Clarke. Jin Structural Biology (BMSB) alumni return to UCLA to give chem.ucla.edu/ Affairs, Celerion; Dr. Sehat Nauli, Professor, Physical Sciences Science (OCDS) at UCLA in graduated in June 2017, and a seminar about their career paths, followed by a Q&A Department, Santa Monica College; Dr. Anna Lee Fisher, former 2006. OCDS is a graduate he joined the Biological Chem147/. NASA astronaut who flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on and reception. These seminars are open to the public, so student-run group which and Biomedical Sciences mission STS-51A; Lindsay Keever, Associate Director, Alliance anyone may drop in to hear about the experience of a promotes cultural diversity (BBS) Ph.D. program at the and Contracts Management, Calico Life Sciences; Dr. Tracy Blois, working biochemistry professional. in the sciences to enrich Harvard Medical School in Director of Alliance Management, Amgen; Dr. Rusty Blanski, Senior Many of our alumni work in industry, such as those at the educational experience August of 2017. Research Chemist, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory; Dr. Mel Left: Fowler (center) with Amgen, and arrange research internships for our students. Sahyun, Editor, Journal of Imaging Science and Technology; Cynthia the 2016 Audree Fowler These internships oftentimes lead to career opportunities Ma, Chemistry and Physics Teacher, Green Dot Public Schools; Fellows in Protein Science, Alexis Lieberman, Account Sales Executive, Spectrum Chemical for our students once they graduate. Our alumni have then biochemistry graduate Manufacturing Corporation; Dr. Tanya Petrossian, CEO of Endo- also arranged for their companies to sponsor lecture students Dr. Brendan Amer Cyclic Therapeutics, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Entrepreneur series and summer fellowships for our undergraduate (Ph.D. ’17, Clubb group) in Residence (EIR), Principal at Building Blocks Advisory Group; students. Thanks to their continued relationship with the and Dr. Jeff Vinokur Dr. Gary Fujii, Board of Directors, Southern California Biomedical department, many of our alumni hire our graduates to (Ph.D. ’17, Bowie group). Council and President/CEO Molecular GPS Technologies; Kevin work for their organizations. u Middle: Dr. Rafael Ortiz; Ogilby, co-owner Progress Brewing, South El Monte; Dr. Marisa Right: Prof. Steven Clarke Joubert, Principal Scientist/Group Leader, Amgen. (left) with Cyrus Y. Jin (right).

6 CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA 7 How do gifts from our alumni hey translate into resources that help us serve our students and community. They allow us to welcome prospective students at the impact and friends sustain the pulse of Trecruitment weekends. They support our recruitment efforts for faculty, students, and postdocs. They inspire young scientists with fellowships that make under- our thriving department? graduate summer research possible. These gifts from our generous alumni and friends also enable us to recruit top scientists to our seminar series and endowed lectures and of giving to create prestigious endowed chairs.

NEW ENDOWED CHAIRS

THE MANI L. BHAUMIK CENTENNIAL COLLABORATORY Generous supporters have established six new endowed chairs that recognize the IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY contributions of some of our terrifically talented faculty. These chairs allow us to retain and recruit the very best faculty to teach and mentor our students. he new Mani L. Bhaumik Chemistry & Biochemistry Centennial Collaboratory is made possible by a generous gift from former UCLA postdoctoral fellow, physicist, Tand bestselling author Dr. Mani L. Bhaumik and will be the heart of student life in the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chairs Founder and President of department, providing students and faculty with a much-needed lecture hall, private meeting Dura Coat Products, Inc. and 2015 Alumni Award recipient, Dr. Hong established the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Materials The Collaboratory will and tutoring rooms, and a fully-equipped study lounge. The Collabo- ratory will be located on the fourth floor of Young Hall (previously the Above: (from left) Recipients of the 2017 Daniel E. Atkinson and Innovation and the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Polymer Charles A. West Biochemistry Undergraduate Prizes in Metabolic department library) where 6,500 square feet of open space is being Science. His gift will help UCLA for years to come by supporting be the heart of student life Biochemistry, Nguyen Pham ‘17 and Jason Gosschalk M.S. ’17, with renovated to enhance the UCLA experience for thousands of young teaching and innovative research activities. in the department... Department Chair Prof. Catherine Clarke, and fund supporters Joy Bruins who rely on courses provided by the department. Morimoto and Dr. Bruce Morimoto. We are thrilled to announce that contributions have already been made to this Michael and Alice Jung Endowed Chair in Medicinal Chemistry THE DANIEL E. ATKINSON & CHARLES A. WEST and Drug Discovery Prof. Michael Jung and his wife Alice new space from the following generous donors: PRIZES IN METABOLIC BIOCHEMISTRY established the endowed chair to support a faculty member who is Dongwon Yoo New avenues of giving have been established to fund conducting research to produce new, life-saving drugs. Prof. Jung Jim and Barbara Tsay teaching and research awards by which we recognize was part of the team that developed the drug Xtandi which has Atsuko and Akira Fujimoto the excellence of our faculty and students. They include proved effective for treating late-stage prostate cancer. Raymond and Dorothy Wilson the Daniel E. Atkinson & Charles A. West Prizes in Metabolic Biochemistry. These awards are named in honor of the Karen and William Timberlake two UCLA chemistry faculty members who were largely John D. and Edith M. Roberts Endowed Term Chair in Chemistry The Collaboratory is a big endeavor requiring much support and we welcome your help. responsible for the development of biochemistry within The endowed chair was established in 2017 in memory of Prof. John For more information about how you can be a part of this critical new space, including the department: Prof. Daniel Atkinson and Prof. Charles A. “Jack” D. Roberts and his wife Edith by his family, friends, and naming opportunities and recognition on the donor wall, please contact the Chair’s office at West. The Atkinson West Prizes award excellence among faculty. Prof. Roberts was an exemplary alumnus of the department (310) 825-3958, [email protected]. u undergraduate and graduate students. This fund also and a renowned chemist. The chair will support a faculty member in supports summer research fellowships in departmental organic chemistry and future lectures. chemistry and biochemistry faculty labs for undergraduate and graduate students. Kenneth N. Trueblood Chair for Excellence in Research and DONORS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY WHO HAVE Teaching The endowed chair was established in 2017 by the estate GIVEN $25K+ SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE UCLA CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN* of Prof. Kenneth Trueblood and his wife Jean. Prof. Trueblood was a leading scientist and teacher at UCLA for whom the Kenneth Susan Baumgarten Jack and Leslie N. Kavanaugh Raymond A. and Dorothy A. Wilson Trueblood lecture hall is named, and his wife Jean was an active Mani L. Bhaumik Charles and Carolyn Knobler Dongwon Yoo MATCHING FUNDS member of the UCLA community for decades. Ravi and Aparna Bikkina Frank B. and Clelia W. Mallory Jeffrey and Helo Zink Estate of Todd Blumenkopf Bruce H. and Joy K. Morimoto The Department is matching all endowments Robert C. and Mae R. Carter Phyllis Parvin *As of print date. Visit www.chemistry.ucla.edu/ of $100,000 or more on a one-to-one basis, Jeffrey and Helo Zink Endowed Professional Development Term Mary Ellen Friedman Emil and Hanna Reisler our-donors for the most up-to-date list of donors. while funds last, ensuring even greater support Chair in Chemistry Established with a gift from Prof. Jeff Zink and Atsuko and Akira Fujimoto The Family of John D. and Edith M. Roberts his wife Helo, this term chair will foster young faculty starting their Robin L. Garrell Ralph and Shirley Shapiro for generations of students and educators. Join careers at UCLA and help the department recruit and retain the best William and Nina Gelbart Karen and William Timberlake us in this investment by contacting the Chair’s For more information about faculty for years to come. Agi Hirshberg Estate of Lorraine H. and Masuo Toji office at (310) 825-3958, [email protected]. Myung and Lorrie Hong Jim and Barbara Tsay The Centennial Campaign for UCLA Kendall N. Houk Estate of Jean T. and Kenneth N. Trueblood Michael E. and Alice M. Jung George M. and Barbara Whitesides visit www.lettherebe.ucla.edu/.

8 CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA 9 rom improving the way we live to saving lives, research by our F Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty comes out of labs and makes the Heather Maynard world a better place. nnovative solutions towards food production are needed to commercializing UCLA offers avenues for researchers to channel their ideas into practical support the growing world population. In particular, animal feed application. Powerful resources like the Division of Physical Sciences Entre- I enzymes are critical components that enable efficient livestock preneurship and Innovation Fund support and encourage faculty as they production. However, these enzymes are often inactivated when take their work out of their labs and to commercial partners who can drive subjected to the high temperatures of feed pelleting processes. those scientific innovations to the marketplace – and, ultimately, all of us. innovation It’s an issue for which Prof. Heather Maynard, Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Polymer Science, has an innovative solution. Maynard and her group have shown that trehalose-based polymers Xtandi has extended ...you could potentially and hydrogels stabilize various proteins and enzymes to heat stress. Richard Kaner the lives of “We found that the three main animal feed enzymes used in farm recharge your dead cell animal nutrition are stabilized by our trehalose hydrogel to the high rof. Richard Kaner’s work is addressing one of the world’s most critical thousands of men ... temperatures required to make the animal feed,” she says. “This, phone in a matter of Pneeds: clean water. He developed a membrane, PolyCera®, that is combined with the efficient and scalable synthesis of the trehalose minutes, rather than hours. capable of cleaning the dirtiest waters, whether for industrial reuse hydrogel, makes the technology promising for enhancing food or household drinking. With the separation properties of an expensive production in the livestock industry.” ceramic membrane and the low-cost and scalability of a polymer Stabilization means that livestock more easily breaks down feed. These membrane, PolyCera® is hydrophilic and resists fouling unlike all other Michael Jung animals are traditionally fed slop that contains elements that their Sarah Tolbert commercial membranes. digestive systems can’t break down. One solution has been to add Kaner, who is the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Materials enzymes to kibble, which is also fed to the animals; these enzymes can Innovation, co-founded PolyCera®, Inc. and sold it to Water Planet Inc., rof. Michael Jung describes the moment he help break down those products for greater nutritional value. The he demand for better batteries is huge, and a which uses PolyCera® membranes in installations all over the world. P knew they had the chemical compound he helped problem with that approach is that heat is required to make the kibble T technology developed by Prof. Sarah Tolbert From oilfields in California and Texas, to household water filters in India develop to treat prostate cancer. and ensure it is free of pathogens like dangerous bacteria, and that is delivering exciting improvements on these power and automotive manufacturing operations in China, PolyCera® cleans up “It was supposed to be a four-year clinical trial, but [the heat degrades the enzymes, making them virtually useless. sources we use in so many ways every single day. wastewater for clean drinking, safe environmental discharge and direct FDA] stopped it after two because the drug was so Maynard’s class of products, called PolyProtek, addresses this need for recycling. PolyCera® membranes work wherever oil and water meet, Tolbert and Prof. Bruce Dunn of UCLA’s Department of Materials Science and good,” says the distinguished professor of chemistry. stabilization in animal feed in a new way. It is cheap and easy to scale up including machine shops and contaminated water from oil fracking. Engineering have developed nanostructured pseudocapacitors – materials “When we heard [the news], I was at the airport in Boston into the tons required for feeding commercial livestock. that combine battery – and capacitor-like properties in a single technology. PolyCera®’s easy-to-clean ultrafiltration membranes are five to ten times and Charles Sawyers was in New York. We called each other More potential is out there for application of Maynard’s product. For In what Tolbert refers to as “battery Swiss cheese”, hole-ridden nanomaterials less expensive than ceramic membranes and can treat waters that are on our cell phones, shouting with joy.” example, it might be able to increase water retention in soil during are filled with a liquid electrolyte containing lithium ions. Because the lithium impossible for commercial polymer membranes. It’s a truly affordable Where other treatments have failed, Xtandi has extended the lives of drought conditions for crop production. The group’s demonstrated containing liquid fills the holes, it does not have to move as far within the and accessible game changer. thousands of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). stabilization of the important protein therapeutics insulin and glucagon battery material itself. That motion of lithium in the solid battery material is After many years of carrying out basic research into new materials, Kaner Jung worked with Drs. Sawyers and Howard Scher of the Memorial Sloan may help diabetics regulate glucose levels, and even more medical one of the key sluggish steps that makes conventional batteries charge slowly. is encouraged by the end result. “It’s exhilarating to work with talented Kettering Cancer Center to develop the anti-androgen drug enzalutamide applications are being tested. u In short, this technology allows the batteries we all know now to charge in a students on converting our basic research on new materials into products (Xtandi), which received FDA approval in August 2012. The oral medication fraction of the time, but unlike traditional supercapacitors, they have similar that improve everyone’s quality of life,” he says. u inhibits the binding of androgens to the androgen receptor, the engine capacity to standard batteries – meaning you could potentially recharge your of prostate cancer progression. Recently, Xtandi was shown to delay the [PolyProtek] is cheap dead cell phone in a matter of minutes, rather than hours. occurrence of metastases in earlier stage CRPC. and easy to scale up “When assembled into an energy storage device, these materials would …addressing one The first person treated with Xtandi in 2007 had been given only a few into the tons enable consumer electronics devices to be charged in just a few minutes,” months to live. He is still alive today. Tolbert explains. of the world’s most UCLA sold a portion of its future Xtandi royalties to fund more research required for feeding There’s no arguing that everyone appreciates batteries that charge quickly – critical needs: programs that could result in similar discoveries. These funds also support commercial livestock. and the faster they are, the more uses people can find for them. clean water undergraduate scholarships and graduate study fellowships. “One of the most obvious applications is electric vehicles,” Tolbert says. “If An experimental chemist, Jung knows that dogged persistence as well as luck you could charge the battery in the same amount of time that you fill it with is needed to succeed in drug discovery. “You can work in the pharmaceutical gasoline, then everybody could have an electric vehicle and you wouldn’t be industry for 40 years and not get a drug on the market because it’s really hard. dependent on having a charging station in your house, or having a house.” There are so many things that can go wrong,” he says. After a decade of refining these materials, Tolbert and Dunn recently helped But sometimes they can go very right. A few years ago, Jung was in the start a company called Battery Streak. The team is making prototypes for UCLA Faculty Center having lunch. A woman walked up to him and said, potential commercial application and scale up, while also working to further “You’re Michael Jung. You’re the inventor of Xtandi!” She then hugged him. push the charging time down and to increase the power capacity (which can Her husband was alive because of the drug. u sometimes be lost when charging time speeds up). Batteries for cell phones, Editor’s Note: A second drug from Mike Jung’s lab, apalutamide or Erleada, was hearing aids, power tools, and of course electric cars may end up being posi- approved by the FDA for nonmetastatic CRPC in February 2018. There will be more tively affected by this exciting technology. u about this excellent treatment for prostate cancer in our next edition.

10 CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA 11 making science accessible

Prof. Alex Spokoyny is a faculty team member of the UCLA the children about the science involved in the experiments. Prison Education Program which focuses on improving The children are also given the opportunity to show off their Our faculty and students take literacy in science, technology, engineering and mathematics chemistry knowledge to win prizes. On average, more than 700 great pride in sharing their love among Southern California prison inmates. children and their parents attend the Science Slams each year! of science with the community. Prof. Heather Maynard and her students regularly bring the Many of our student groups host on-campus tours for local “Maynard Lab Traveling Science Road Show” to a local family school children and community college students, giving them crisis center to demonstrate fun science experiments. They the opportunity to observe first-hand experiments in the lab also visit local Brownie and Girl Scout troops, while Prof. Ben and hear about the life of a UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry Schwartz works with local Boy Scouts to create activities that graduate student through panel discussions. These dedicated help them earn their Chemistry Merit Badges. students also volunteer with the UCLA Advancing Women in Science and Engineering (AWiSE) events at local elementary ueled by their own love of science, our faculty and Prof. Richard Kaner and his lab members visit local and middle schools. students bring chemistry and biochemistry out of the elementary and high schools to give hands-on lectures about Flab and into the community. By visiting local schools and polymers, semiconductors, and metals. Prof. Patrick Harran And finally, our department enthusiastically participates in organizations to give hands-on demonstrations of simple and teaches an introductory general chemistry course for one of UCLA’s largest on-campus events of the year: Exploring fun experiments, our faculty and students give young people disadvantaged Los Angeles inner city students. Your Universe, which brings thousands of children and parents to campus to learn about the wonders of science through the opportunity to observe what we do first hand. This In addition, our faculty and students volunteer at the annual demonstrations, exhibits, and hands-on activities. community engagement opens a new world of possibilities to Univision Feria de Educación, an event held at various curious minds and may lead some to pursue a career in science. California State University campuses, which provides educa- These are just examples of the broad range of activities that At a local elementary school, graduate Many of our department’s faculty and students participate in tional and college preparatory services, learning opportuni- our students and faculty offer to the community. Visit www. students demonstrate how to the Nanoscience Outreach Program, which Prof. Sarah Tolbert ties, and fun-filled family activities for the Latino community. chem.ucla.edu/outreach/ to learn more. u make “elephant toothpaste”, a foamy substance created by the rapid has led for the past 15 years. They visit local schools and train Many of the students and their families at the fair are from decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. teachers how to conduct nanoscience experiments in their underserved communities, especially in the areas of science, classrooms, providing them with all the supplies needed to technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. perform the experiments. Each year new experiments are Some of our outreach has gone global. An on-line tutorial, developed by a dedicated team of graduate student and BACON, created by Prof. Neil Garg and graduate student postdoctoral volunteers in collaboration with Tolbert. These volunteers, provides students and teachers from around same students run the teacher workshops. With hundreds of the world access to a free method of learning organic teachers having completed this training, thousands of school chemistry which has consistently proven to increase test children each year are positively impacted by this outreach. scores. Instructor Dr. Laurence Lavelle developed and For more than 10 years, Prof. Carla Koehler and members of maintains a free, widely used online chemistry community her group have led an annual, week-long course in zebrafish which contains files, images, and videos. biology for second graders at Ivanhoe Elementary School. Much of the department’s community outreach is done by The young scientists use stereomicroscopes to visualize brine Two of many “thank you” notes sent graduate and undergraduate students from our various student shrimp and developing embryos; they note the various organs organizations, including the Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE) fraternity, from 2nd graders to Prof. Carla Koehler in the fish and enjoy watching the hearts beat and blood after her week-long course in zebrafish the Biochemistry Association for Student Enrichment (Bio- flow. The students help set up matings during the week and biology at Ivanhoe Elementary School. chemASE), the Chemistry & Biochemistry Graduate Student COLORING CHEMISTRY watch the embryos develop, noting the different stages. Like Association (CBGSA), the Organization for Cultural Diversity Children are also learning to love science thanks to outreach by our faculty and real scientists, the students record their observations and in Science (OCDS), and the Student Members of the American students. Prof. Neil Garg and his two young daughters created an organic chemistry participate in a discussion about using model organisms to Chemical Society (SMACS). understand human disease. The initiative shows how children coloring book showcasing the chemicals in common household items and foods. can become engaged through the experimental and observa- For example, each year SMACS and OCDS students volunteer Garg has donated hundreds of copies to the UCLA daycare center and Warner Avenue tional process in science, regardless of academic level. at a Science Slam at Warner Avenue Elementary School. The Elementary School. The book is also available on Amazon and Amazon Europe. In the students demonstrate experiments such as “floating candy photo above, children at the UCLA daycare center color large printouts of the book, Reaching underserved communities is the goal of much of the letters” (M&Ms in water) and “elephant’s toothpaste” (break- which has children follow Cheesy the Mouse on an exploration of the chemistry that community engagement done by our faculty and students. down of hydrogen peroxide by potassium iodide) and talk to makes up our lives.

12 CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY AT UCLA 13 chemistry and biochemistry today

607 Charles E. Young Drive East Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569 Tel: 310.825.3958 www.chemistry.ucla.edu