The University of California has achieved a new milestone by setting a world record for the number of Nobel Prizes awarded to its faculty in a single year. In October, the Nobel Committee honored three UC physicists for advancements in quantum computing and a UC chemist whose work enables water extraction from air. An alumnus with ties to both UC San Diego and UCLA was also recognized for research that helps prevent autoimmune responses.
This marks the first time four faculty members from one institution have been recognized with Nobel Prizes in the same year. With these latest awards, UC faculty have now received 75 Nobel Prizes, placing the university among a small group worldwide with such an achievement.
Andrea M. Ghez, 2020 Nobel laureate in physics and professor at UCLA, spoke about her team’s discovery confirming the existence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way: “At the University of California, we have the tools to look deep into the universe, and we’ve been able to bring something incredible into focus. We showed the world something that’s impossible to see directly and discovered more questions than answers.” She emphasized that this type of groundbreaking research is characteristic of UC’s approach: “That’s what we do at the University of California every day,” Ghez said. “We ask questions, we explore things that are still shrouded in darkness, and we bring new knowledge and understanding into focus.”
David Julius, 2021 Nobel laureate for physiology or medicine and professor at UC San Francisco, credited his experience at UC for fostering collaboration: “UC is a special place where people interact freely. There are other places I could have gone that could have given me more resources. What they couldn’t give me was the intellectual and collegial atmosphere, working with scientists who mentored me to be curious and active in the scientific community and to give back.” Julius’s research identified proteins responsible for sensing heat, cold, and pain—work he hopes will lead to new types of nonaddictive pain medications.
John Martinis, part of this year’s class of Nobel laureates for physics as professor emeritus at UC Santa Barbara (and holding degrees from UC Berkeley), described how access to advanced equipment across departments enabled experiments leading to breakthroughs in quantum mechanics: “When I went to UC Berkeley, it was amazing to be taught by the top physicists in the world. And they were all experts in building the instruments that lead to scientific discovery.” Martinis explained how his team built macroscopic systems demonstrating quantum behavior—a foundation for emerging technologies like quantum computers.
Randy Schekman, 2013 Nobel laureate for physiology or medicine and professor at UC Berkeley, reflected on how public investment shaped his academic journey: “California’s master plan for higher education included the construction of new campuses large enough for the children of all the families of our state to enjoy the nation’s finest educational opportunities. I was a direct beneficiary of that investment.” Schekman’s early curiosity led him through public education institutions before making discoveries on cellular protein transport mechanisms now used globally in biotechnology.
Since Ernest O. Lawrence won its first Nobel Prize in 1939 for inventing the cyclotron, University of California researchers have consistently contributed significant advances across disciplines.
The current group of laureates is participating in events during this week’s award ceremonies in Stockholm.
