Dean - College of Chemistry

The University of California, Berkeley College of Chemistry, ranked among the very top in the world in its fields of study, seeks a dynamic leader and accomplished scholar to serve as the next Dean of the College of Chemistry.

Now over 150 years old, Chemistry at UC Berkeley has been part of the University since its founding. The College of Chemistry has been recognized for many of the field's most important discoveries, such as adding 16 elements to the periodic table. College faculty and alumni have been awarded 19 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and 9 Wolf Prizes in Chemistry and Medicine, in addition to 39 elections to the National Academy of Sciences awards, and an ever-growing list of major awards and honors across the College of Chemistry. Notably, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Professor Emeritus Omar Yaghi, for his groundbreaking work "creating molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow." The College of Chemistry is comprised of two departments: the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE)

The Dean serves as the chief academic officer and executive officer of the College of Chemistry. The Dean reports directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (EVCP) and has 10 direct reports, including the undergraduate dean, one executive associate dean, one associate dean, three senior assistant deans, two department chairs, and two staff. The Dean will articulate and execute a strategic vision for the future of the College of Chemistry. They will be a clear and open communicator, who actively listens, models how to participate in UC Berkeley's tradition of shared governance, and leads the College through change. The Dean will also cultivate financial resources to sustain and further the College's excellence, embracing existing community and industry partnerships, while seeking out and establishing new revenue sources and partnerships for program support, infrastructure improvements, academic exploration, and future development needs. Critically, they will sustain and enhance the College's academic reputation by ensuring that its resources, capacity, and academic needs are prioritized. The Dean will be a visible and engaged leader of the College, supporting all faculty, staff, and students in the community, and reducing barriers to success. Finally, the Dean will embody-and advance-UC Berkeley's Principles of Community and the College's commitment to fostering an inclusive community built on mutual respect. They will uphold UC Berkeley's commitment to providing fair treatment, access, and opportunity for all.

The successful candidate will have a distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and professional activity appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at the level of full professor at UC Berkeley. To be considered as candidates, applicants must have a doctoral degree or equivalent international degree at the time of application and submit a CV, preferably with a detailed letter of interest that responds to the agenda for leadership and the desired attributes for the new dean.

Applicants must apply directly on the AP Recruit website. For fullest consideration, materials should be received by Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Dana Jantz, Chief of Staff to the Vice Provost for the Faculty, at jantz@berkeley.edu.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

This is a sensitive position and is subject to a criminal background check.

Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree or an equivalent international degree by the time of application.

A distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and professional activity appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at the level of full professor at UC Berkeley.

• Demonstrated leadership experience, deep knowledge of the current and future research direction in the fields of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering and the ability to formulate and execute a strategic plan that will grow the ability of the College to continue its global reputation and stature;
• An approachable, inclusive, engaging, and collaborative leadership style that promotes mentoring, collaboration, professional development, and creativity, and a demonstrated ability to work effectively in an environment with a strong tradition of shared governance;
• Demonstrated success in developing and motivating internal teams, especially those consisting of world-class researchers and thought leaders;
• Experience with generating resources, fundraising, and working with external constituents, including alumni, donors, industry, government entities, and foundations;
• A demonstrated track record of supporting faculty, scholarship, and participation in faculty recruitment, retention, and tenure and promotion review processes;
• Deep managerial experience within an academic environment, including extensive budget oversight, financial planning, strategic resource allocation, laboratory safety, and personnel management experience;
• Demonstrated success with, and enthusiasm for, advancing research activity while balancing faculty commitments to teaching and service;
• A personal commitment to upholding UC Berkeley's Principles of Community; demonstrated success in fostering an educational or organizational culture that enables people from all backgrounds and in all roles within the organization to thrive. A record of contributions consistent with UC policy regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, or belonging.
• The ability to advocate for faculty, staff, students, and the College as a whole, and transparently communicate information to and receive feedback from all constituencies;
• Demonstrated support of academic success strategies for all student populations, including undergraduate and graduate students from groups that are underrepresented in the field;
• A highly motivated and entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to function effectively and prioritize initiatives in a fast-paced environment;
• Capacity and enthusiasm to lead and advocate for the various disciplines and the broad range of theories and methodologies within the College, encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and advance the goals of the greater university;
• The ability to be decisive and make difficult decisions; and,
• Excellent listening skills, intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, and passion for the work of a leading public research university.

For candidates that advance in the process, UC Berkeley may conduct on- and off-list reference checks during the finalist stage.

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, or discrimination. Consistent with this commitment, UC Berkeley requires all applicants for Senate faculty positions to complete, sign, and upload an Authorization of Information Release form into AP Recruit as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, applicants will only be subject to institutional reference checks if and when they are selected as the candidate to whom the hiring unit would like to extend a formal offer. More information is available on this website.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment