Award-Winning Organic Chemist

Ben Taft has received national recognition for his research in organic chemistry. Taft (BS, Chemistry, ’04) is one of 15 third- and fourth-year graduate students nationwide to receive a $24,000 2007–08 fellowship from the American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry. He is working on his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara and will work on a postdoctoral appointment at Stanford beginning January of 2009.

Taft is exploring new ways to manufacture pharmaceuticals by making drugs and nutrients such as Taxol (a cancer drug), coenzyme Q10, and omega-3 fatty acids water-soluble. The process has environmental and economic benefits, minimizing waste and using fewer chemicals, says Taft. The water-based products are also more easily absorbed and used by the body and may be more effective, he says.

Taft, who plans to work in pharmaceutical research and development, says much of his success is due to the “guidance and encouragement” of his mentors: Dave Ball, a chemistry professor at CSU, Chico, and Bruce Lipshutz at UCSB.

Anna Harris, Public Affairs and Publications