The 2025 Richard C. Tolman Award Recipient:
Dr. Brian Stoltz
Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry,
California Institute of Technology
Biography:
Dr. Stoltz earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Yale University and completed NIH postdoctoral research at Harvard University with Nobel Laureate E. J. Corey before joining Caltech in 2000
Over the past twenty-five years, he has built a leading research program in synthetic organic chemistry and catalysis. His pioneering work in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric oxidation, enantioselective alkylation, and the construction of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters has transformed catalytic methodology. By developing widely applicable enantioselective carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions and applying them to the total synthesis of over fifty complex natural products, Dr. Stoltz has set new benchmarks for efficiency, selectivity, and creativity. These achievements extend beyond academia; through collaborations and translational efforts, including co-founding 1200 Pharma, his catalytic technologies have supported the development of new medicinal candidates, with compounds advancing to clinical trials for cancer treatment. As the late Nobel Laureate Robert H. Grubbs noted, “He is well recognized as one of the leaders in organic synthesis and is one of the few who not only develops both new catalytic methodology but also demonstrates the methods in complex total synthesis… [His work] show[s] promise of opening new structural space in the treatment of human diseases.” Dr. Stoltz’s scholarship has been recognized by nearly every major honor in synthetic organic chemistry, including the ACS Cope Scholar Award, the ACS Corey Award, the 2018 ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, the 2025 ACS H. C. Brown Award, and the 2026 ACS Guenther Award.
Dr. Stoltz is also recognized for his contributions as an educator, mentor, and leader in the chemical sciences. He has guided numerous undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, including 67 Ph.D. graduates, many of whom now hold key roles in academia and industry. His laboratory is known for both scientific excellence and a culture of intellectual rigor, integrity, and inclusivity. Professor Neil Garg describes him as “one of the most successful and creative researchers in the field and… an extraordinary teacher and mentor.” Professor Richmond Sarpong adds, “He has had an outsized influence on not only the research of many other scientists, but also on their conduct as scholars, teachers, and citizens of their respective institutions… He is a generational scientist in not only his research, but in his teaching, service, and mentorship.”
Dr. Stoltz’s service includes over four years as Diversity Officer for the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltech, demonstrating his commitment to broadening participation in the chemical sciences. His example highlights how effective mentorship and inclusive excellence are essential to the advancement of STEM. Through innovative research, national leadership, and dedication to mentoring future chemists, Dr. Brian M. Stoltz embodies the essence of the Tolman Award and is among the most distinguished chemists of his generation. Congratulations, Dr. Stoltz!
We will honor Dr. Stoltz at the Tolman Award Dinner. Look for more information in our next issue. More information on Dr. Stoltz can be viewed here: https://www.stoltz.caltech.edu/brianstoltz