Dr. Omar Yaghi

Professor

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Biography

Omar M. Yaghi received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and served as an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University. He is the James Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, and the founding director of the Berkeley Global Science Institute, which aims to establish research centers in developing countries while providing young scholars with opportunities to discover and learn. He co-directs the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute (Kavli ENSI), focusing on energy transformation at the molecular level. Additionally, he is involved with the California Research Alliance BASF (CARA) to support joint academia-industry innovations and the Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet (BIDMaP), which aims to develop cost-efficient versions of ultra-porous materials known as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) to address climate change. His work encompasses the synthesis, structure, and properties of inorganic and organic compounds and the design and construction of new crystalline materials. He is known for pioneering the field of Reticular Chemistry and has published over 300 articles, achieving an h-index of 190 and more than 250,000 citations.

Research Interests

Experience

James Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor

— Present

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Lead in teaching and research in the field of chemistry.

Awards

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Sacconi Medal

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Materials Research Society Medal

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American Chemical Society Award in Chemistry of Materials

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Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize

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King Faisal International Prize in Science

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Albert Einstein World Award of Science

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BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award

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Wolf Prize in Chemistry

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Eni Award for Excellence in Energy

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Gregori Aminoff Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

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August-Wilhelm-von-Hofmann-Denkmünze

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Royal Society of Chemistry Sustainable Water Award

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VinFuture Prize

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Wilhelm Exner Medal

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Solvay Prize

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Tang Prize

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Balzan Prize

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.