UCLA MACS Program
Meet Our Team
Program Director
Dr. Paula Diaconescu
Professor Diaconescu's research interests lie at the interface of catalyst design and biodegradable polymer formation, encompassing organometallic chemistry and materials properties.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Joseph Loo
Professor Loo's work includes the development and application of bioanalytical methods for the structural characterization of proteins and post-translational modifications, proteomics-based research, and the elucidation of protein biomarkers to aid human health studies.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Chong Liu
Professor Liu's group develops electrochemical systems for energy, biology, and environments by combining expertise in inorganic chemistry, nanomaterials, and electrochemistry.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Matthew Nava
Professor Nava's group is fundamentally interested in understanding how to efficiently translate molecular structure and reactivity to address challenges at the frontiers of materials, biological and energy conversion chemistries.
Associate Director
Dr. Tremylla Johnson
Dr. Johnson is a Bruin Alumna who received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology. With diverse industry experiences as a Quality Control Chemist, R&D Biochemist, and Scientific Project Manager, she will help students develop strategies to pursue career goals and enhance soft skills to be successful in their future position.
Administrative Officer
Kelsea Valerio
Kelsea graduated from UCLA in 2019 with her degree in English. She specializes in providing high level administrative support. Ensuring efficient communication and logistics, she bleeds blue and gold in all her endeavors.
About UCLA
History
The UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has a long tradition of excellence and is ranked among the best in the world, as evidenced by the quality of its programs, the caliber of its faculty, and the excellence of its students. The department is a leader in cutting-edge research and innovative educational programs.
Over 50 professors in our department pursue research in all areas of chemistry and biochemistry. The goals of our research include synthesizing complex natural products and new nano-materials required to solve the health and environmental crises facing our planet, illuminating the molecular mechanisms that regulate the decoding of genetic information, and other basic research to advance science and society.
ACADEMICS & ACHIEVEMENTS
UCLA is ranked number one in the U.S., according to the 2021 U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities Rankings - Top Public Schools. It was also the most applied-to university in the U.S (based on fall 2019 admissions), with more than 135,000 freshman applications received. Other achievements from our department include:
- 3 alumni and 4 faculty members have won the Nobel Prize.
- 4 faculty members have won the National Medal of Science.
- 12 faculty have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
- 4 faculty recipients of the UCLA Gold Shield Faculty Prize, honoring those who have a distinguished record of undergraduate teaching, research, and university service.
- 24 faculty recipients of the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA), the highest honor for teaching bestowed to UCLA faculty. This is among the highest number of DTA received by any department on campus.
- 10 UCLA Distinguished Teaching Assistant Awards have been received by department graduate students.
- 7 UCLA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards have been bestowed to department faculty and students.
CULTURE AND DIVERSITY
Diversity is one of UCLA’s core values. It enables the kind of broad, enriching educational experience for which the campus has long been known for. UCLA has established a wide array of programs and activities that help address the special needs and interests of its diverse student populations, ranging from veterans and the economically disadvantaged, to students with children, graduate students, and others with specific needs. In the UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, we aim to project a positive portrayal of underrepresented groups in the sciences to prospective high school and college students, the public at large, and also to the academic and scientific community.
UCLA seeks to understand, appreciate, and respect the differences in cultures and customs, religious beliefs, gender identities, sexual preferences, political points of views, and socio-economic backgrounds.
As one of the world's most ethnically and culturally diverse communities, UCLA endeavors to create a welcoming space for all students. Servicing students from all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries, we aim to provide networking and outreach opportunities to our members to support them in their ultimate career goals.