Seth Cohen, an internationally recognized inorganic chemist, scholar and educator, has been appointed dean of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, effective Aug. 1. He comes to UC Irvine after nearly 25 years at UC San Diego, where he is a Distinguished Professor and Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Cohen’s research spans chemistry, materials science and medicinal chemistry, with applications ranging from energy sciences to pharmaceutical development. Known for pioneering advances in metal‑organic frameworks and MOF-polymer composite materials, his research has been supported for more than two decades by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health, among others. He has taught courses in organic, inorganic and materials chemistry as well as science policy.

In addition, Cohen served as a science policy fellow at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and as a program manager in the Biological Technologies Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In these roles, he worked with government scientists, military leaders, and academic and industry researchers to advance federal science policy and vital scientific research. He is a co-founder and scientific advisory board member of three biotech companies specializing in oncology and antibiotic drug discovery.

Read on in the full announcement on the UC Irvine website here.