Physical Sciences | UC San Diego

06/17/2026

Congratulations to biochemistry major Kelli Childs on receiving an HHMI Cech Fellowship! Currently a member of Alexis Komor's lab, Childs will spend the summer at Columbia University in the Sternberg lab.

The immersive summer research program pairs talented undergraduates from 109 institutions across 36 states and territories with leading HHMI scientists.

06/16/2026

Congratulations to Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Bob Continetti on being appointed the Distinguished Chair in Physical Chemistry! 🎉

06/15/2026

Early biological systems that could generate guanosine‑triphosphate (GTP) from prebiotic chemicals would gain a crucial advantage toward self‑replication. Now researchers from the UC San Diego report a version of an RNA enzyme (ribozyme) that makes GTP synthesis more efficient than its predecessor.

Early biological systems that could generate guanosine‑triphosphate (GTP) from prebiotic chemicals would gain a crucial advantage toward self‑replication. Now researchers from the UC San Diego report a version of an RNA enzyme (ribozyme) that makes GTP synthesis more efficient than its predecess...

06/12/2026

You did it grads! Congratulations on all you have accomplished. We can't wait to see what you do next. No matter where you go, you'll always have a home at UC San Diego.

06/11/2026

UC San Diego’s astronomy department will graduate its first cohort of undergraduates this year. When it was launched in 2023, the department wanted to capitalize on the rich history of space research and teaching at the university while also rethinking the needs of modern-day students.

UC San Diego’s astronomy department will graduate its first cohort of undergraduates this year. When it was launched in 2023, the department wanted to capitalize on the rich history of space research and teaching at the university while also rethinking the needs of modern-day students.

06/10/2026

💥Congratulations💥 to Sasha Levina on being selected for the prestigious ACME visitor program. Sasha was chosen from over 100 applicants and was among only a handful of US-based researchers selected to visit Europe. Sasha is planning to visit the University of Geneva to study how to use gravitational waves to understand cosmic star formation. Sasha is currently a third-year PhD student in Floor Broekgaarden's lab.

The second call ran from March 2, 2026 to April 2, 2026. See more details here. Out of the 108 eligible applications that have been received, 52 projects were selected as listed below. The selected candidates are invited to contact the coordinator of the corresponding institute as soon as possible t...

06/09/2026

Dark matter, extraterrestrial life, space dust -- our astrophysicists cover all that and more. Even beyond our astronomy department, UC San Diego faculty in biology, geophysics and engineering are helping us explore the final frontier.

In addition to UC San Diego’s well-known ties to space — producing astronauts such as Jessica Meir and Kate Rubins, offering K-12 offerings from Sally Ride Science, and sending health research to space, to name but a few — researchers are conducting space-related research in unexpected ways.

06/08/2026

San Diego County is partnering with UC San Diego to better understand how pollution from the Tijuana River Valley is affecting people living and working in nearby communities. Led by Kimberly Prather, the study will equip the county with the scientific foundation needed to support future health studies and provide actionable information.

The County is partnering with the University of California San Diego to better understand how pollution from the Tijuana River Valley is affecting people living and working in nearby communities.

06/05/2026

Sally Ride didn't let any barrier--even the atmosphere--stand in her way. After a groundbreaking career as an astronaut, she taught physics at UC San Diego. And that's just one fact you might not know about her:

Happy birthday to Sally Ride (1951-2012) on what would have been her 75th birthday on May 26, 2026. Here, to celebrate her life and birthday during the 25th anniversary year of Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego, is a list of 25 things you might not know about the trailblazing astronaut Sally Ride.

06/04/2026

Drug delivery and diagnostic imaging often lack specificity, but a new “TRACE” method from UC San Diego biochemistry professor Neal Devaraj's lab lets specially‑caged compounds stay inert until they interact with a target cell’s enzymes, potentially allowing for more precise drug delivery and sharper diagnostic imaging. https://bit.ly/4fWiZcj

Drug delivery and diagnostic imaging often lack specificity, but a new “TRACE” method lets specially‑caged compounds stay inert until a target cell’s enzymes quickly remove the cage, potentially allowing for more precise drug delivery and sharper diagnostic imaging.