Mel Nguyen leads successful 2026 STEM Summit for Chem Academy

Over three weeks in June and July 2026, Chem Academy Program Director Mel Nguyen led another successful STEM Summit for Chem Academy at UCI. 

This program brought science to life through laboratory investigations, interactive demonstrations, collaborative projects, and visits to UCI research facilities. Students strengthened their technical skills while discovering how chemistry connects with food, medicine, forensic investigation, cosmetics, human health, and Earth’s history.

Research article by Chemistry grad student and research scientist makes cover of APL Photonics

The research article "Video-rate mid-infrared imaging in the molecular fingerprint region via nanosecond non-degenerate two-photon absorption" has been selected as both a featured article and a cover story by APL Photonics. The work has been spearheaded by two members of the Fishman Lab, Evan Garcia (senior grad student) and Yryx Luna-Palacios (senior research scientist). Ryan Nguyen and Aleks Noskov of the Fishman Lab, as well as Professors Eric Potma and Dima Fishman, were also co-authors of the article. 

Congratulations to our retirees!

Congratulations to our retirees, Distinguished Professor Don Blake, Professor Ramesh Arasasingham, and Professor Greg Weiss! The Department of Chemistry celebrated Don and Ramesh with a retirement party. Although Greg could not make the party, he was there in spirit. We thank Don, Ramesh, and Greg for their many contributions to the department and to UCI over the years!

Professor Maxx Arguilla receives $200K grant from the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities to advance research into nanoscale crystalline materials

Congratulations to Professor Maxx Arguilla who received a $200,000 grant from Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities to support his further research into nanoscale crystalline materials!

Professor Maxx Arguilla of the UC Irvine Department of Chemistry recently received a $200,000 grant from the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities to advance his research into nanoscale crystalline materials.  

Chemistry Professor Matthew Griffin receives $50,000 early-career award to study new targets for the next generation of antimicrobial agents

Matthew Griffin, an assistant professor in the University of California, Irvine Department of Chemistry, has received a 2026 Early Career Faculty Research Excellence Award from the University of California Office of the President.  

Jennifer Prescher wins the Research Corporation for Science Advancement's Impact Award!

Research Corporation for Science Advancement has named three Cottrell Scholars as recipients of its 2026 STAR and IMPACT Awards. CS 2012 Sara Skrabalak, Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, has won the STAR Award, and CS 2014 Jennifer Prescher, Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, and CS 2008 Tehshik Yoon, Chemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, have won IMPACT Awards.

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