Department News

Professor Eleanor Browne Named as a 2026 Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor

Adeline Greene — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:50:21 +0000

Professor Eleanor Browne Named as a 2026 Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Adeline Greene Mon, 03/30/2026 - 11:50

Twenty-two faculty were recognized have been recognized with this year’s Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award. These faculty, including the Chemistry Department's Eleanor Browne, were recognized for outstanding contributions in improving CU Boulder's graduate student experience.

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Snow, Sweatshirts, and School Spirit: CU Chemistry Welcomes Spring Semester

Jay Bolan — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:19:03 +0000

Snow, Sweatshirts, and School Spirit: CU Chemistry Welcomes Spring Semester Jay Bolan Mon, 01/12/2026 - 08:19

Jay Bolan , MA

The Spring semester at CU Boulder began with an unexpected surprise: snow on the very first day of classes. As temperatures dropped and flakes filled the air, chemistry graduate students rose to the occasion, quite literally wrapped in school spirit.

Thanks to a recent departmental merchandise sale, many students arrived on campus sporting their new CU Chemistry sweatshirts. The sale was organized by Administrative Assistant Adeline Greene and Graduate Program Manager Jay Bolan, with the goal of strengthening community and reinforcing a shared sense of identity within the department.

(Pictured above: graduate students pose for a photo with Department Chair Joost de Gouw.)

Offering branded merchandise is a way to help students feel connected to one another and proud of their academic home. The enthusiastic response made that clear. While departmental merchandise is always popular, this year exceeded expectations with nearly 80 sweatshirts ordered.

As luck would have it, the timing couldn’t have been better. With the semester’s first snowfall and chilly temperatures, the sweatshirts arrived just in time to keep students warm while showcasing their pride in both the department and their chosen field of chemistry.

The chilly first day of classes quickly turned into a moment of connection, celebration, and shared identity, captured perfectly in these photos of our graduate students representing CU Chemistry in style.

(Pictured above: first-year graduate students Camille Conte, Kylie Short, Serim Park, and Joseph Delaloye.)

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CU Boulder Gen Chem Teaching Labs Driving Sustainability Efforts

Adeline Greene — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:46:42 +0000

CU Boulder Gen Chem Teaching Labs Driving Sustainability Efforts Adeline Greene Mon, 01/05/2026 - 11:46

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Graduate Student Phil Pham Selected for Prestigious Polymer Research Award

Adeline Greene — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:08:05 +0000

Graduate Student Phil Pham Selected for Prestigious Polymer Research Award Adeline Greene Thu, 12/18/2025 - 10:08

Hoang Phuc (Phil) Pham, a graduate student in Oana Luca's group, was selected to the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium, which recognizes outstanding graduate students in polymer science and engineering. Selection to this symposium is a distinct honor in the polymer community.

As part of the award, Phil will present his work on electrochemical plastics recycling at ACS Atlanta in Spring 2026.

Hoang Phuc (Phil) Pham, a graduate student in Oana Luca's group, was selected to the Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium. This award recognizes outstanding graduate students in polymer science and engineering. Phil will present his work on electrochemical plastics recycling at ACS Atlanta in Spring 2026.

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Winter Gathering Brings Chemistry Faculty and Staff Together

Jay Bolan — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:02:50 +0000

Winter Gathering Brings Chemistry Faculty and Staff Together Jay Bolan Fri, 12/05/2025 - 09:02

Jay Bolan , MA

The Department of Chemistry held its annual Winter Celebration on December 5th in recognition and appreciation of faculty and staff, marking the close of the semester and the year’s accomplishments. Held at the vibrant Boulder Moxy, the event offered a warm and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for connecting with colleagues across the department.

During the event, Joost de Gouw, the department’s newly appointed chair, offered remarks expressing his gratitude to Wei Zhang for his leadership and stewardship during his term as chair, which concluded this past summer. Professor de Gouw acknowledged that while the department has navigated several challenges, it remains supported by a strong community of faculty and staff who are deeply committed to the department’s mission and ongoing success.

Guests enjoyed light refreshments, lively conversation, and a welcome opportunity to unwind before the end-of-year rush. The celebration highlighted the strong sense of community that continues to shape the department’s success, as familiar faces reconnected and new colleagues were welcomed into the fold. The Department of Chemistry extends its appreciation to all who attended and contributed to a warm and memorable celebration. We look forward to a productive and inspiring year ahead.

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CU Boulder researchers featured among highly cited researchers in 2025

Adeline Greene — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:28:16 +0000

CU Boulder researchers featured among highly cited researchers in 2025 Adeline Greene Thu, 11/20/2025 - 13:28

Clarivate honored chemistry faculty Jose Jimenez and Wei Zhang in their 2025 list of Highly Cited Researchers. This international group is not only based on citation counts, but also a rigorous selection process to determine those most influential in their fields.

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Graduate Students Shine at the 2025 Chemistry Fall Ball

Jay Bolan — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:01:36 +0000

Graduate Students Shine at the 2025 Chemistry Fall Ball Jay Bolan Mon, 11/10/2025 - 10:01

The Department of Chemistry celebrated its graduate students in style at the 3rd annual Fall Ball, held on Saturday, November 8, at the Boulder Marriott, bringing students together from across research areas and cohort years for a night of celebration, connection, and community.

The Fall Ball has established itself as the signature event of the year, offering a time to unwind, reconnect, and celebrate the many contributions graduate students make to research, teaching, and the broader departmental community.

The event serves as a heartfelt expression of the department’s appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and tireless efforts of its graduate students, whose commitment drives the department’s success throughout the year.

“Our department could not function without the tremendous efforts of our graduate students, and this event is one way that we can demonstrate our appreciation for all that they do,” said Jay Bolan, Graduate Program Manager.

This year’s celebration featured exciting new additions, including a dedicated dance floor and music provided by DJ Dakota of Mountain Sound, which kept the energy high and the dance floor full well into the evening.

Now in its third year, the Fall Ball has continued to grow in both attendance and enthusiasm, solidifying its place as the highlight of the academic year. The event’s continued success is made possible through the support of the Department of Chemistry and the generosity of the CU Boulder Graduate School, whose partnership helps make this memorable tradition possible.

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CU Boulder Commits to Green Chemistry

Adeline Greene — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:51:32 +0000

CU Boulder Commits to Green Chemistry Adeline Greene Wed, 11/05/2025 - 11:51

In May, campus leaders signed the Green Chemistry Commitment to practice and teach sustainable chemistry—an effort being encouraged and advanced by Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar and members of the Green Chemistry CU Student Government Environmental Board subcommittee.

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JILA’s Mathias Weber Named Fellow of the American Physical Society

Adeline Greene — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:22:24 +0000

JILA’s Mathias Weber Named Fellow of the American Physical Society Adeline Greene Mon, 10/13/2025 - 10:22

JILA and the University of Colorado Boulder are proud to announce that Professor Mathias Weber has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), one of the highest honors in the physics community.

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CU Boulder Students Selected as Lab Venture Challenge Finalists

Adeline Greene — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:47:38 +0000

CU Boulder Students Selected as Lab Venture Challenge Finalists Adeline Greene Wed, 10/01/2025 - 12:47

Please join the Department of Chemistry in congratulating Hunter Koltunski, representing the Luca Lab, and the Agami team, Jafar Makrani and Lyle Antieau, on making it to the final round of the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge! They've been researching magnetohydrodynamic electrochemistry and are competing for $125k in research funding.

Cheer them on at the pitch showcase on Wednesday October 22nd 6-8pm at the Gordon Gamm Theater! Tickets are free, but should be reserved ahead of time, since tickets at the door are not guaranteed.

Learn more here: /venturepartners/newsletter/special-announcement/special-announcement-lab-venture-challenge-lvc-showcases

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