Welcome Message from the Chair, Sarah Reisman
As we approach the end of the year, it is a fitting moment to reflect on the many accomplishments and milestones of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering during the latter half of 2025.
Our faculty and students continue to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to research and service. This includes the recognition of four CCE faculty members, Garnet Chan, Gregory Fu, Jonas Peters, and Brian Stoltz, with 2026 ACS National Awards, a remarkable achievement that reflects the strength and breadth of our division.
This fall, we began the academic year with a number of division-wide events that continue to play an important role in building community and supporting professional development. We also welcomed several new colleagues to CCE, including new research staff and administrative team members, as well as Assistant Professor of Chemistry Johannes Morstein. And we said goodbye to Joe Drew, who is beginning a well-earned retirement after more than thirty years of service to Caltech. I encourage you to read on to learn more about Johannes and the many people who help keep our division running day to day.
We continued long-standing traditions such as Seminar Day, a student-organized event showcasing research talks from our graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Safety Day provided a full day of hands-on workshops and discussions focused on laboratory safety—an essential priority for everyone involved in our research mission. We also gathered recently for the CCE Holiday Celebration, a festive event that brought our community together at the close of the year.
Our Community Programs remain a point of pride. This year’s Rising Tide cohort brought energy and curiosity to hands-on training designed to introduce students with limited prior research experience to modern laboratory techniques. Our Day of Inclusion once again provided thoughtful discussion and workshops about how we build a supportive CCE community that welcomes scholars from around the world and values the diverse experiences and perspectives they bring to Caltech.
Looking ahead, we are excited about events planned for the new year that will offer additional opportunities for scientific exchange and connection. A full list of division seminars is included at the end of our newsletter.
Finally, I hope you are able to find time during the holiday season to rest and recharge. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Eaton fire, our thoughts are with members of our community who continue to regroup and rebuild. I am grateful for our CCE community and for the shared commitment that makes Caltech a remarkable place to work and learn. I wish you a happy holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year.
Let me know your thoughts on this newsletter at cce@caltech.edu.
