Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna and the Bio Revolution Catalyst COLLEGE of CHEMISTRY UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
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SP21 V 16.1 Spring/Summer 2021 Volume 16 • Issue 1 COLLEGE OFCatalyst CHEMISTRY • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna and the bio revolution Catalyst COLLEGE OF CHEMISTRY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY dean Douglas S. Clark [email protected] executive associate dean Richmond Sarpong [email protected] chair, department of chemistry Matthew B. Francis [email protected] chair, department of chemical and biomolecular engineering Jeffrey A. Reimer [email protected] undergraduate dean John Arnold [email protected] senior assistant dean, college relations & development 7 Laurent “Lo” de Janvry [email protected] senior director of development Mindy Rex [email protected] senior director, strategic and philanthropic partnerships Camille M. Olufson [email protected] managing editor director marketing and communications Marge d’Wylde catalyst online Leigh Moyer contributors 12 Ashok Ajoy Laurent de Janvry Denise Klarquist Mark Kubinec Brice Yates research Sara Koerber design Alissar Rayes printing Dome Printing for submissions to college publications, please email content to: [email protected] 6 ON THE COVER In this issue, we celebrate Professor Jennifer Doudna’s Nobel Prize and the bio revolution she has helped create. COVER PHOTO: KEEGAN HOUSER catalyst online at: catalyst.berkeley.edu © 2021, Regents of the University of California contents Spring/Summer 2021 Volume 16 • Issue 1 3 DEAN’S DESK 16 The new era in theoretical chemistry 4 NEW & NOTABLE 18 MARTIN HEAD-GORDON 20 BIRGITTA WHALEY 8 FUTURE TECH 22 PHILLIP GEISSLER 24 ERAN RABANI 12 Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna and the bio revolution 26 NEW FACULTY PROFILES 32 DONOR SPOTLIGHT 36 EDITORIAL 16 32 26 28 30 36 College of Chemistry, UC Berkeley PHOTO © BENSONPHOTOS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. dean’s desk Strength and hope during adversity If the last year has taught us anything, it a full professor. Both departments have is that living through an unthinkable sit- recently completed virtual interviews — uation can become second nature, and never before done and flawlessly executed that by working together we can adapt to — for the next round of faculty hires, and make the best of the most demanding con- both departments have identified amazing, ditions. I have come to realize that the diverse candidates whom we are actively study of phase transitions goes beyond the pursuing. I hope to be announcing those boundaries of our College of Chemistry successful efforts this time next year. labs. In March 2020, we were all forced to Since my last message, we have made sig- ask ourselves, “How do we go from a state nificant strides in strengthening our ability of constant physical interaction to a state to address diversity, equity, inclusion, and of constant isolation, all the while main- belonging (DEIB) matters in the college. taining the same level of productivity and Anne Baranger has been appointed as our effectiveness?” Countless hours were spent inaugural associate dean for DEIB, and by faculty, staff, students, and researchers Brice Yates has joined the College as chief trying to identify the best methods to make DEIB officer. Together they lead the newly this transition palatable and sustainable. created College Advisory Committee for I remain extremely proud and grateful for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, the hard work committed by everyone to and they have established several goals for the new state-of-the-art Heathcock Hall, for keep the college running smoothly. advancing DEIB in the College, including which we recently received a $10 million We are still euphoric from the excitement developing a five-year strategic plan. They commitment from PMP Tech. My excite- surrounding Jennifer Doudna receiving the have recently collected proposals for our ment and gratitude continue to grow with each step we take towards realizing this goal. 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, sharing it graduate diversity fellows’ projects, which 3 with collaborator Emmanuelle Charpentier is a reminder of just how inspiring and Reflecting on these and so many other for the co-development of CRISPR-Cas9. driven our graduate students are. highlights from the last year, I am truly What an incredible achievement and inspir- In early May we welcomed our first William impressed, but not at all surprised, by the ing message. It was a pleasure to co-host, A. Lester Lecturer. This new lectureship, capacity of our College to make the suc- with our graduate students, an online dis- named for our distinguished colleague, was cessful transition to a new way of life cussion with Jennifer in November to hear established in 2020. It will bring to Berkeley while raising the bar of excellence even about the history of her remarkable journey eminent scholars from diverse personal higher. Together or apart, faculty, stu- and her vision for the future of gene-editing. and professional backgrounds to present dents, and staff in the College of Chemistry Also, last fall, the college was honored to their research and engage in discourse about will always find solutions to the tough- virtually host Birgitta Whaley as the 67th their experiences and challenges of becoming est problems facing us today. We continue Gilbert Newton Lewis Memorial Lecturer. scientists. I am thrilled to engage in this long to celebrate our shared passion for and In her lecture, she took us on a journey of overdue focus in our named lectureships. achievement in producing the best chem- “finding the quantum in biology,” and you istry and chemical engineering research in can read more about this fascinating work In other College news, I would like to the world. in the main science feature in this issue. I acknowledge Ron Silva, who has served as very much look forward to the days when our Advisory Board Chair for the last three these celebratory events can happen in years. Ron’s leadership was crucial in help- front of a packed auditorium again. ing the College meet several challenges, and I am grateful for his exemplary service. One of our greatest examples of triumph DOUGLAS S. CLARK Ron is succeeded in this role by our alum- Dean, College of Chemistry , Gilbert N. Lewis Professor in the face of adversity over the last year is nus John Markels, currently the President in our faculty recruitment efforts. Last July, of Vaccines at Merck and a longstand- assistant professor Ashok Ajoy joined us ing member of the board. I look forward in the Department of Chemistry. This July, to working with John to advance our goals Joelle Frechette, from Johns Hopkins for the future, including construction of University, will join the CBE faculty as Spring/Summer 2021 Catalyst NOTABLE RESEARCH•VIEWS NEW& DISCOVERIES•AWARDS Nobel gold medals delivered by diplomatic courier around the world Because of the pandemic, the award ceremony for the Nobel Prize in Stockholm was postponed in December 2020. Nevertheless, the Nobel commit- tee sent the Laureates their medals and beautiful hand painted diplomas. Eleven of the medals, including Professor Jennifer Doudna’s, traveled with diplomatic immunity via diplomatic pouch across the world. Have you ever wondered what the Nobel Prize medal is made of? Before 1980 the medal was 4 made from 23 carat gold. Newer Nobel Prize med- als are 18 carat green gold plated with 24 carat gold. Green gold (known as electrum) is an alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper. The diameter of the Nobel Prize medal is 66 mm but the weight and thickness vary with the price of gold. The average Nobel Prize medal is 175 g with a thickness ranging from 2.4-5.2 mm. Chemistry professor and alumnus Paul Alivisatos (Ph.D. ’86, Chem), who directed the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for seven years and served the UC Berkeley campus as vice chancellor for research and currently as executive vice chancellor and provost, all while continuing his pioneering work in nanocrystals, has been appointed president of the University of Chicago, his undergraduate alma mater. “I can think of no one better suited for this extraordinary opportunity, and no one who will be harder for us to replace,” said Chancellor Carol Christ. “Paul has been an extraordinary partner; a tireless, visionary leader; a friend; and a true champion for Berkeley’s mission, values and CHRIS POLYDOROFF academic excellence.” We will miss you at the College of Chemistry but know that many students at Berkeley received excellent educations under your tutelage. Students at the University of Chicago will benefit from your guidance of the institution. Best of luck from all of us. College of Chemistry, UC Berkeley Frances Arnold named co-chair to President Biden’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology In a move to strengthen the position of science SOCIETY COURTESY ROYAL in the government, President Biden has selected geneticist Eric Lander to be science advisor for Theoretical Chemist his new administration. President Biden also elevated the position to Cabinet rank. He has William Miller also chosen Maria Zuber (MIT) and alumna and turns 80 Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold (CalTech) to serve as co-chairs of the President’s Council of Advisers Professor Emeritus William (Bill) Miller’s daughters and on Science and Technology. Arnold, winner of the coworkers organized a zoom 80th birthday party for him 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the recipient in March. The party included lots of reminisces from Bill, of numerous other honors, is a respected pioneer his colleagues, and many of his former coworkers. in the fields of protein and chemical engineering. During his career, Bill made many profound and diverse The council will advise the president on matters contributions to theoretical physical chemistry of molecu- involving science, technology, education, and lar motion, from semiclassical mechanics to reactive scat- innovation policy. The council will also provide tering, and from chemical kinetics to path integrals.