Polly L. Arnold

Polly L. Arnold is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, and Director of the Chemical Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Her research focuses on exploring synthetic chemistry of rare earth and actinide elements, particularly their roles in catalytic transformations and nuclear waste management. She holds an OBE and is a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Education:

• BA in Chemistry, University of Oxford (1994)
• D.Phil. in Chemistry, University of Sussex (1997)

Research Interests:

• Development of rare earth and actinide-based catalysts for C-H bond activation and small molecule (N₂, CO₂) functionalization
• Structural and electronic properties of uranium complexes and their applications in quantum materials
• Safe stewardship of nuclear waste through molecular-level understanding of actinides

Key Achievements:

• Pioneered uranium-mediated small molecule activation, including dinitrogen and carbon dioxide
• Discovered novel reactivity patterns in f-block elements, challenging traditional bonding models
• Recipient of prestigious awards including the Alexander von Humboldt Bessel Prize (2007) and EPSRC Leadership Fellowship (2009–2014)

Academic Roles:

• Director, Chemical Sciences Division (LBNL)
• Professor of Chemistry (UC Berkeley)
• Prior appointments at University of Edinburgh (Crum Brown Chair) and University of Nottingham

Her work bridges fundamental chemistry with applied challenges in sustainability and energy, leveraging advanced synthetic and spectroscopic techniques to reveal new chemical paradigms in heavy elements.