In July, Zhi-Hao Cui joined the UC Irvine Department of Chemistry as an assistant professor. Before joining UCI, Cui was a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University. He studies how a material’s chemical makeup and atomic structure shape the behavior of its electrons.

Department of Chemistry Professor Sergey Nizkorodov has been honored as an AGU Fellow. Each year, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the Earth and space sciences. AGU recognizes individuals and teams for their outstanding accomplishments in research, education, science communication and outreach. These recipients have transformed our understanding of the world, impacted our everyday lives, improved our communities and contributed to solutions for a sustainable future.

UCI Assistant Professor Zhihao Cui has been named a 2026 Regional Finalist in Chemical Sciences for the Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. He has been recognized for his groundbreaking postdoctoral work at Columbia University, where he developed computational theories modeling how electrons interact with vibrations and light, advancing the prediction and design of superconductors and quantum materials with unusual properties.

Congratulations Professor Cui! 

Bill Evans recently was recognized with the highest award of the European Rare Earth and Actinide Society (ERES), namely the LeCoq Boisbaudran Award, named after the person who discovered gallium, samarium, and dysprosium. This was awarded at the latest International Conference on f Elements (ICFE) in Manchester England on September 6. 

Evans has now won all of the international awards for rare-earth metal chemistry including the Spedding Award of the Rare Earth Research Conference and the Terrae Rarae award of the German rare-earth metal conference.