Chemistry and Biochemistry
Professor
Jerry Yang's lab is interested in using organic chemistry as a tool to study problems in biology and materials science. The foundation of our interdisciplinary program lies in organic synthesis that allows for designing structures with tailored chemical function. In addition to synthetic techniques, students will be trained in a broad range of analytical, physical, and biological methods to probe the molecular details of their systems.
Bio
Jerry Yang is a distinguished scientist and academic renowned for his impactful contributions to the fields of chemistry and biochemistry. He earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 2001 under the guidance of Prof. Ronald Breslow, receiving additional degrees from Columbia, including an M.Phil. in 2000 and an M.A. in 1998. Yang commenced his academic career as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University with Prof. George M. Whitesides from 2001 to 2003. Currently, he holds the position of Professor at the UC San Diego Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, a role he has undertaken since 2018. Jerry Yang's academic journey includes notable appointments such as Associate Professor (2009-2018) and Assistant Professor (2003-2009) at UCSD. He also served as the Founder and Board of Directors at Amydis Diagnostics from 2014 to 2016 and as a Visiting Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School in 2012-2013. Jerry Yang's exceptional work has been recognized through various awards, including the California HIV/AIDS IDEA Award in 2011, the NSF CAREER Award in 2009, the Alzheimer's Association New Investigator Award in 2008, and the American Cancer Society Research Scholar in 2007, among others. His commitment to excellence is further highlighted by numerous honors, such as the Wallace H. Coulter Translational Research Partnership Award in 2006 and the Hammett Award for Excellence in research at Columbia University in 2001. Jerry Yang's illustrious career is marked by a combination of academic achievements, research innovations, and accolades, demonstrating his significant impact on the scientific community.