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The School of Physical Sciences is committed to sharing information about its administration, academics, outreach and research—from people to their changemaking activities—with a full-service news and multimedia team. From writing stories and media training, to coordinating press interviews and posting social media news, we cover the physical sciences around the clock, year-round.

	Alumni Spotlight: Mikaela Larkin Physics alumna Mikaela Larkin shares her experiences at UC San Diego and discusses her recently published paper on Population III stars.
	Rewriting the Textbook on Gene Regulation: It’s the Big Picture That Counts For the first time, researchers at UC San Diego have shown that changes in gene expression happen almost entirely during the transcription stage while the cells are growing. The researchers have provided a simple quantitative formula linking regulatory control to mRNA and protein levels.
	Physics Professor Brian Keating Named 2022 Legend of Flight Honoree Physics Professor Brian Keating was honored by the International Air & Space Hall of Fame as a 2022 Legend of Flight honoree, recognized for his work in studying the cosmic microwave background, and using it to learn about the origin and evolution of the universe.
	The Science of…Linear Algebra and the Design Matrix Johannes Brust is a visiting scholar with the Department of Mathematics. Earlier this year he published an article that discusses matrix designs for COVID-19 group testing. In this edition of “The Science of…” he talks about his paper and his work in linear algebra.
	UC San Diego Researchers Show Molecules Change Their Behaviors Under a Polariton Leader Professors of Chemistry Wei Xiong and Joel Yuen Zhou answer the question of whether polariton modes and dark modes both modify chemical reactions. Their research shows unambiguously that chemical reactions only occur with polaritons.
	Q-MEEN-C Celebrates the Next Four Years Q-MEEN-C, led by UC San Diego, celebrated $12.6M in renewed funding from the Department of Energy with a morning reception event attended by campus leadership, elected officials, scientists and students.
	The Science of…Cool Stars and Super Earths UC San Diego Physics professor Adam Burgasser and graduate student Christian Aganze were part of a research team that recently announced the discovery of two 'super-Earth' type planets. In this edition of “The Science of…” Adam and Christian explain cool stars, super Earths and why age matters.
	Theoretical Physicist Olga Dudko Named American Physical Society Fellow Phyiscs professor Olga Dudko has been named an APS Fellow. She was recognized for developing a non-equilibrium statistical mechanics theory that provides a framework to identify and characterize biological processes from kinetics experiments.
	UC San Diego Researchers Named Recipients of NIH New Innovator Awards Chemistry professors Fleur Ferguson and Johannes Schöneberg are recipients of 2022 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award from the NIH Common Fund’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program.
	The Science of…Polariton Chemistry Chemistry professors Wei Xiong and Joel Yuen Zhou explain what polariton chemistry is, what they hope to learn from their investigations and why chemistry is like magic.
	Professor of Mathematics Amir Mohammadi is 2022 ICM Lecturer Mohammadi’s research interests include Lie groups and Ergodic theory, particularly the interplay between dynamical systems and other areas of mathematics, such as number theory and geometry.
	Physicists Receive $12.6M From Department of Energy to Continue Exploring Next-Generation Computing Through a highly competitive process, the Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $12.6 million in renewed funding for Quantum Materials for Energy Efficient Neuromorphic Computing (Q-MEEN-C), led by UC San Diego.
	Researchers Discover How Strep A Bacteria Evade Our Natural Defenses The labs of Chemistry Professor Partho Ghosh and Pediatric's Victor Nizet used x-ray crystallography to discover how certain strep A bacteria evade the body's natural defenses.
	Appointment of Oleg Shpyrko as New Department of Physics Chair Professor of Physics Oleg Shpyrko is the new chair of the department, after having previously served as vice-chair. And thank you to outgoing chair and Distinguished Professor Brian Maple for his years of service.
	UC San Diego Receives $1.3M from W. M. Keck Foundation to Study Origins of Dementia Researchers Fleur Ferguson, Johannes Shöneberg and Gal Mishne have received $1.3M from the Keck Foundation to better understand the role misfolded tau proteins play in causing neurodegenerative diseases.
	Associate Professor of Mathematics Zhouli Xu is 2022 ICM Lecturer Xu's work focuses on topology. In his ICM lecture, he introduced a new methodology via motivic homotopy theory—a theory designed to study problems in algebraic geometry, but Xu has shown it can be also used to study problems in classical topology.
	Honoring a UC San Diego Landmark and Its Lasting Impact on Physics The Kohn-Sham equation was pivotal to the formation of density functional theory. Its subsequent impact on everything from new materials design to drug discovery led APS to designate Mayer Hall a historical site.
	Researchers Take First-Ever Cryo-EM Images of Nitrogenase in Action Akif Tezcan and Mark Herzik, both in the Department of Chemistry, report near-atomic-resolution snapshots of nitrogenase during catalysis using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM). The results were published in the journal Science.
	Neal Devaraj Named Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow Professor of Chemistry Neal K. Devaraj has been named a Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow by the Department of Defense (DOD). Devaraj was one of only nine selected fellows, and the first from UC San Diego since 2015.
	The Outer Limits: Future Economic Growth in the Face of Diminishing Resources Professor of Physics Thomas Murphy believes humankind's current trajectory unbridled economic growth is unable to continue much longer. His assessment appears in a comment paper recently published by Nature Physics.
	Olga Dudko Receives Prestigious Simons Investigator Award Professor of Physics Olga Dudko has been named a 2022 Simons Investigator, one of the most prestigious awards for a theoretical research scientist. Dudko is a theoretical physicist whose work seeks to establish unifying physical principles in biology.
	Taking Care of Business: Female Alumni Chart Their Own Paths to Success At the intersection of the physical sciences and business are three female alumni who used their time on campus to further their academic studies and learn the kinds of skills—tenacity, patience, collaboration—that helped make their companies a success.
	Physical Sciences Researchers Earn Prestigious Early Career Awards Four researchers from the School of Physical Sciences have received important early career awards from the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.
	School of Physical Sciences Class of '22 Share Their Stories The School of Physical Sciences congratulates everyone who graduated this spring. Here we share a few stories from the graduating class of 2022—favorite memories, challenges overcome, and friends made along the way.
	UC San Diego Atmospheric Chemist Kim Prather Elected to American Philosophical Society Kim Prather has been inducted into the American Philosophical Society, whose members have included George Washington, Thomas Paine, Charles Darwin and Robert Frost. Prather is the first person from UC San Diego to be inducted since 2010.
	Student Spotlight: Josh Gillis Student athlete Josh Gillis will graduate this spring with a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in business. He is a member of the UC San Diego Track & Field team, where he is in the top ten for javelin throws in the Big West Conference. Read more about his accomplishments in our Student Spotlight Q&A.
	UC San Diego Service Award Honoree Shares Highlights from 36-Year Career During Diana Platero-Lopez's 36 years with UC San Diego, she has played various roles in many departments including pharmacology, music, economics and mathematics, where she is currently the manager of Student Affairs.
	UC San Diego Researchers Win Big in 2022 DOD Research Funding Awards Chemistry Professor Wei Xiong and Physics Professor Monica Allen were both part of research teams that received interdisciplinary research awards from the Department of Defense.
	The Physics “Class of 1966” Finds Cohesion in Diaspora After they graduated, they dispersed across the globe. Yet over the past five decades, they have remained in touch, even during the pandemic. An update on the Physics Class of ’66…
	The Division of Physical Sciences Announces Inaugural EDI Excellence Awardees The division is excited to announce the recipients of its inaugural EDI Excellence Awards: Alex Frañó, Megan Li, Stephanie Mora Garcia, Jeanette Starpine and SACNAS. Their work provides invaluable support to EDI initiatives in the division and across campus.
	Three UC San Diego Math Professors Win Simons Fellowships Congratulations to three UC San Diego mathematics faculty – Adrian Ioana, Melvin Leok and Rayan Saab – on being named 2022 Simons Fellows. The fellowship will provide them additional support to focus on research and intellectual stimulation.
	Shelley Wright Named 2022 SETI Institute Drake Award Recipient Associate Professor of Physics Shelley Wright will receive this year's Drake Award from the SETI Institute for her work on SETI instrumentation and using infrared wavelengths to detect extraterrestrial communications.
	Unstable Molecule Clicks with Synthetic Strategy Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Josh Figueroa and postdoc Shuai Wang have discovered a new way to stabilize diphosphorus using a single metal ion, reinforcing the diagonal relationship between phosphorus and carbon, and providing a new tool in synthetic chemistry.
	2022 George W. and Carol A. Lattimer Faculty Research Fellows Announced Congratulations to the latest recipients of the division’s Lattimer Faculty Research Fellowship – Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Galia Debelouchina and Professor of Physics Olga Dudko.
	Meddling with Metals: Escaping the Tyranny of Copper Chemistry Professor Akif Tezcan and postdoc Tae Su Choi designed a flexible protein that selectively binds other metal ions over copper, paving the way for the design of novel functional proteins and metal sequestration agents.
	New Faculty Bridge Black Studies and STEM UC San Diego is welcoming 13 new faculty members who will serve as connection points between the experiences and outcomes of Black and African American people and issues in science, technology, engineering and health, including Chemistry Professor Lisa Jones.
	Bridging a Gap in the Theory of Synaptic Transmission Professor of Physics Olga Dudko and physics Ph.D. student Bin Wang have discovered a universal theory of synaptic transmission. The discovery revealed that synapses with strikingly different properties still exhibit similar patterns and behaviors.
	Franklin Garrett Receives Inclusive Excellence Award Congratulations to Franklin Garrett on receiving the 2021 Inclusive Excellence Award for his work supporting the campus’ equity, diversity and inclusion goals. Read our Q&A to learn more about his work, his thesis research and what he loves about UC San Diego.
	Three UC San Diego faculty members receive 2022 Sloan Research Fellowship UC San Diego celebrates three new Sloan Fellows, including Assistant Professor of Mathematics Frederick Manners. These are one of the most competitive and prestigious awards available to early career researchers.
	Massimiliano Di Ventra Named an IEEE Fellow Physics Professor Massimiliano Di Ventra has been named an IEEE Fellow for his work on quantum transport in nanoscale systems and “in-memory computing.” Di Ventra is the university’s only 2022 IEEE fellow.

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