We solve problems in energy and sustainability with better materials.

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Joined February 2014
Replying to @bretthelms
@bretthelms.bsky.social over at🦋…
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Join Our Team! We have a postdoc opening in my group at Berkeley Lab. We’re designing bio-derived chelators and polymer sorbents for critical mineral recovery, from molecular selectivity through to a working separation. Priority review December 1. phxc1b.rfer.us/LBL8NSHTu
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We’re hiring a Staff Scientist in Microelectronics & Nanofabrication at the Molecular Foundry, Berkeley Lab. Early-career and experienced candidates welcome. Priority consideration for applications received by November 23. @BerkeleyLab @molecularfndry lnkd.in/gBPVmyHJ
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We’re especially interested in sub-10 nm patterning, optical patterning approaches including EUV, and linking process, characterization, and device data to predictive models.
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Berkeley Lab’s microelectronics and quantum materials programs are run as communities, spanning the Foundry, the ALS, and the Materials and Chemical Sciences Divisions. The new hire would sit at the center of that network.
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Today’s the day! #CRB60 Fun Fact: Carolyn was on my dissertation committee at @UCBerkeley and then later my boss when she was director of @molecularfndry
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How do you draw (meth)acrylates?
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2/2 The team achieved titers of 1.84 g/L and showed that these #renewablemonomers can be used to create recyclable plastics with tunable thermal and mechanical properties. Congratulations to the entire team on this incredible achievement! Read it here: nature.com/articles/s41587-0…
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Just out in @J_A_C_S! Ether ligands unlock vehicular sodium transport in single-ion conducting organo-ionic (ORION) solids, which are used in sodium-ion batteries. @doescience @energystoragera @BerkeleyLab @PNNLab @UCSanDiego @UCBerkeley pubs.acs.org/jacsat/article/…
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Outstanding team: Carson Zellmann-Parrotta, Xiaoxu Ruan, J. David Bazak, Libby Katzman, Dong-Min Kim, Bryan McCloskey, Tod Pascal & Brett Helms
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Rather than infer transference from electrochemistry and its ideality assumptions, we measured the anion directly by electrophoretic NMR. It barely moves. That's where the high transference number comes from; ether ligands carry sodium rather than reshuffle the anion network.
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Join our team! We are seeking postdoc candidates interested in pioneering all-organic batteries in partnership with the Energy Storage Research Alliance. @BerkeleyLab @molecularfndry @UCB_Chemistry Apply here: phxc1b.rfer.us/LBLQjvHHo
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We're thrilled to share our new manuscript in @NatureBiotech, led by former postdoc Zilong Wang! We engineered #PolyketideSynthases to produce renewable monomers for plastics with programmable properties, enabling materials-by-design for a circular and sustainable future. 1/2
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Outstanding team: Zilong Wang, Seokjung Cheong, Hai Wang, Jeremy Demarteau, Alexander R. Epstein, Baishakhi Bose, Weixi Hu, Matthias Schmidt, Leah Keiser, Mei Zhao, Beibei Ge, Alberto A. Nava, Ramu Kakumanu, Edward E. K. Baidoo, Yan Chen, Christopher J. Petzold, Yifan Guo...
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...Nawa Raj Baral, Nemi Vora, Sarah L. Nordahl, Yuzhong Liu, Rithwik Ghanta, Pablo Cruz-Morales, Kevin Yin, Robert W. Haushalter, Kristin A. Persson, Corinne D. Scown, Brett A. Helms & Jay D. Keasling
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Just out in @NatureBiotech! New PKS-engineered route to chiral monomers for PDKs: tunable Tg and programmable depolymerization, all from corn stover feedstock. Cheaper & lower-GHG than dimedone. Biosynthesis meets circular plastics. @jbei @molecularfndry nature.com/articles/s41587-0…
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Helms Research Group retweeted
Early-bird discounted registration deadline for Innovations in Plastics Recycling & Sustainability is NEXT WEDNESDAY! Deadline: July 15, 2026. polyacs.org/2026polyiprsregi… #POLYworkshop #IPRS26
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Our beloved group mascot, Abraham, is no longer with us. He was the bravest strongest soul. We will not be the same without him, we were better because of him. We will always love him.
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