Mentored by Caltech Professor of Chemistry and Feynman Prize Winner Dr. Brian Stoltz, this elite program covers advanced organic synthesis, chemical reaction mechanisms, and bioactive drug design. Students gain direct exposure to Caltech-caliber laboratory logic and chemical inquiry.
Work to the standards of academic research: frame a precise question, weigh the evidence critically, and build an argument that holds up to expert scrutiny.
Students author their own research manuscript. Journal submission and acceptance are separate steps, not guaranteed outcomes.
Direct feedback and ongoing guidance from scholars active at top global institutions.
Start with what you want to investigate. Develop your own research question and write your own paper, with professor and TA guidance on methods, evidence and revision. The course theme is a starting point—not a predetermined paper to reproduce.
Applications & feesProgram at a glance
See the dates and teaching schedule for this cohort.
Students work toward their own research manuscript. Journal submission and acceptance are separate steps; publication and university admission are not guaranteed.
Course Description: Organic Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Natural Product Synthesis, Asymmetric Catalysis, Reaction Mechanisms, Stereochemistry, Advanced Synthesis Techniques
Assessment Methods: Recommendation Letter Opportunities, Research Papers
Students curious about how chemists create life-saving medicines from scratch. • Potential Topic: Design a retrosynthetic route for aspirin or ibuprofen and understand how molecular structure affects drug efficacy. Students fascinated by the 3D architecture of molecules and its role in drug design. • Potential Topic: Investigate why thalidomide's mirror-image molecules have opposite effects (one cures, one causes birth defects) and explore stereochemistry in modern pharmaceuticals. Students aiming to push the boundaries of chemical synthesis for complex natural products. • Potential Topic: Propose a total synthesis strategy for a cancer-fighting natural product like Taxol, applying advanced catalytic methods and evaluating synthetic efficiency.
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry | Biochemistry, Drug Discovery, Interdisciplinary Research, Laboratory Skills, Organic Chemistry, Research Methods
Led by Brian Stoltz
Professor of Chemistry • California Institute of Technology
Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Director of the Stoltz Group, Dr. Brian Stoltz is the recipient of the prestigious Feynman Prize and an internationally recognized pioneer in synthetic organic chemistry. Renowned for inventing groundbreaking chemical transformations, asymmetric catalysis methods, and total syntheses of bioactive natural products, Dr. Stoltz trains students in the rigorous mechanistic logic and molecular design that define world-class chemical biology laboratories.
Course Description: Organic Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Natural Product Synthesis, Asymmetric Catalysis, Reaction Mechanisms, Stereochemistry, Advanced Synthesis Techniques Assessment Methods: Recommendation Letter Opportunities, Research Papers
Professor Hours
30 hours
TA Mentoring Hours
20 hours
Schedule
9AM-3PM
Applications are reviewed for research readiness and fit. A place is confirmed only after an admissions decision.