Welcome Message from the Chair, Sarah Reisman
Happy New Year, and welcome to the start of a new academic term.
At Caltech, we are taking our first steps toward recovery following the devastating fires that swept through the Los Angeles area in early January. Our community was significantly impacted by the Eaton Fire, which forced more than 1,200 individuals into mandatory evacuation and left nearly 300 members of the Caltech and JPL community without homes. The losses in Altadena have been staggering, and it’s clear that the road to recovery will be a long one.
Amid these challenging times, it has been truly heartwarming to witness our community come together to support those affected. Friends, colleagues, and former coworkers from around the world have reached out to check in and offer their support. In an incredible show of solidarity, over 2,200 members of our community—donors and friends—have collectively contributed more than $2 million to the Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief Fund.
This fund is providing immediate financial support to affected students, employees, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and faculty—whether they have lost their homes, been displaced, or are facing other dire circumstances as a result of the Los Angeles County wildfires.
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of everyone who has donated to this vital cause. If you haven’t yet contributed, it’s not too late to make a difference.
Despite this tumultuous start to 2025, the beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on the achievements of the past few months. We have much to celebrate as a division, including awards to our outstanding faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers, and the addition of new faculty our ranks. For those attending the spring ACS meeting in San Diego, be sure to catch Prof. Frances Arnold’s Priestley Award address at 4 pm on Sunday, March 23.
The new year also brings fresh opportunities for research. Please read on to learn more about the newest discoveries and breakthroughs happening across the Division.
I'm delighted to welcome two new faculty members to our department. Isaac Fianu joins us as Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Sandeep Sharma joins us as Professor of Chemistry. Their expertise and passion for teaching and research will undoubtedly enrich CCE, and we look forward to their contributions in the months and years to come. I'd also like to congratulate Alison Ross, our Chemistry Graduate Option Manager, on her retirement and for her over 30 years of service to the Institute. Continue reading to learn more about her and her successor.
Looking ahead, we have several exciting events planned for the term, including two named lectureships; the W. N. Lacey Lectureship in Chemical Engineering and the Ruth & Eddie Hughes Lecture. Please refer to the Division calendar for the full schedule of events and further details. These events provide invaluable opportunities to connect with experts in various fields, expand our knowledge, and enhance the collaborative spirit that defines our division.
In closing, I want to thank each of you for your continued support of CCE. We look forward to a successful winter term and a fulfilling year ahead.
Let me know your thoughts on this newsletter at cce@caltech.edu.
