Prof. Omar Yaghi is a pioneering chemist whose research focuses on the synthesis, structure, and properties of inorganic and organic compounds, as well as the design and construction of innovative crystalline materials. He is internationally recognized for pioneering major classes of advanced materials, including Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), and molecular weaving. These materials possess some of the highest known surface areas and have enabled transformative applications in hydrogen and methane storage, carbon capture and conversion, water harvesting from desert air, and catalysis. Through his groundbreaking building block approach, Prof. Yaghi established the field of Reticular Chemistry, defined as “stitching molecular building blocks into extended structures by strong bonds,” revolutionizing the design and creation of materials with unprecedented diversity and functionality. Building on this foundation, he has pioneered AIMATRY (AI × Materials × Chemistry), an emerging research field that integrates artificial intelligence with materials science and chemistry to accelerate the discovery, design, and synthesis of new materials. AIMATRY aims to overcome the limitations of traditional trial-and-error approaches by developing AI-enabled tools that can predict material structures and properties, guide experiments, and dramatically shorten materials research and development cycles. His contributions to MOFs, COFs, molecular weaving, and AI-driven materials discovery have resulted in more than 300 scientific publications, receiving over 250,000 citations and an h-index exceeding 200, reflecting his profound impact on modern chemistry, materials science, and the future of AI-enabled scientific discovery.

1983-1985 B.S., Chemistry, Cum Laude; State University of New York-Albany, New York

1986-1990 Ph.D., Chemistry, Best Thesis Award, University of Illinois-Urbana, Illinois

1990-1992 NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University

1992-1998 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Arizona State University

1999-2006 Robert W. Parry Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan

2006-2011 Irving and Jean Stone Chair in Physical Sciences, UCLA

2012-2026 James and Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor of Chemistry, UC Berkeley

2012-2026 Senior Faculty Scientist/Affiliate, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

2012-2013 Director of the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

2013-2026 Co-Director of the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute, UC Berkeley

2014-2026 Co-Director of the California Research Alliance by BASF, UC Berkeley

2014-2026 Founding Director of Berkeley Global Science Institute, UC Berkeley

2022-2026 Founding Co-Director and Chief Scientist for Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet, UC Berkeley

2025-2026 University Professor, University of California

2009-2016 Head, Center for Reticular Materials, NIMs, Tsukuba, Japan

2009-2013 World Class Professor Program, KAIST, South Korea

2011-2017 Founder and Advisor, Center for Global Mentoring, UCLA

2011-2021 Director of the Carbon Capture and Conversion Group at KFUPM, Saudi Arabia

2011-2016 Co-Executive Director, MANAR Research Center, Vietnam National University

2013-2026 Director of UC Berkeley- KACST Saudi Collaborative Center

2016-2022 Co-Founder of Reticular Materials for Sustainability, University Putra Malaysia

2018-2019 Advisor to UC Berkeley-Wuhan University Innovative Research Center

2018-2019 Advisor to ShanghaiTech University, Physical Sciences

2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, United States

2026 Medallion of the University, University of Albany, United States

2026 Sheikh Saud International Prize in Materials Science, United Arab Emirates

2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Sweden

2025 Von Hippel Award, Materials Research Society, United States

2025 Honorary Doctorate, Princeton University, United States

2025 IUPAC-Soong Prize for Sustainable Chemistry

2024 The Great Arab Minds Award, United Arab Emirates

2024 Balzan Prize for Nanoporous Materials for Environmental Applications, Switzerland

2024 Tang Prize for Sustainable Development, Taiwan-China

2024 Science for the Future Ernest Solvay Prize, Belgium

2023 Wilhelm Exner Medal for Direct Impact on Science and Industry, Austria

2023 Humboldt Research Award, Germany

2021 VinFuture Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Emerging Fields, Vietnam

2021 AAAFM-Nakamura Prize, United States

2021 Ertl Award, Fritz Haber Institute, Berlin, Germany

2021 Basolo Medal, Northwestern University, United States

2020 Royal Society of Chemistry Sustainable Water Award, United Kingdom

2020 German Chemical Society, August-Wilhelm-von-Hofmann Medal, Germany

2020 Kistiakowsky Prize, Harvard University, United States

2019 Nano Research Award, China

2019 Mohammed bin Rashid Medal of Science, United Arab Emirates

2019 Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Gregori Aminoff Prize, Sweden

2018 ENI Award for Energy, Italy

2018 Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water, Saudi Arabia

2018 Wolf Prize in Chemistry, Israel

2018 BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Basic Sciences, Spain

2017 Kuwait Prize in Basic Sciences, Kuwait

2017 Albert Einstein World Award of Science, World Cultural Council, Mexico

2017 Star of Science Award, Jordan

2017 Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry International Award, Japan

2017 King Abdullah II Order of Distinction of the First Class, Jordan

2017 Royal Society of Chemistry Spiers Memorial Award, United Kingdom

2017 Bailar Medal, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States

2016 TÜBA Academy Prize in Basic and Engineering Sciences, Turkey

2016 Mack Award, Ohio State University, United States

2015 Mustafa Prize in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Iran

2015 UNICAM Award, University of Camerino, Italy

2015 King Faisal International Prize in Science, Saudi Arabia

2013 China Nano Award, China

2010 Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize, United Kingdom

2009 Izatt-Christensen International Award in Macrocyclic Chemistry, United States

2009 American Chemical Society Award in the Chemistry of Materials, United States

2008 AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize, United States

2007 Materials Research Society Medal, United States

2007 Deans Recognition Award, UCLA, United States

2007 DOE Hydrogen Program R&D Award for Outstanding Achievements, United States

2006 H. N. McCoy Award for the greatest discovery in chem. Sci., UCLA, United States

2004 Sacconi Medal, Italian Chemical Society, Division of Inorganic Chemistry, Italy

2002 Chem. Chair’s Excellence in Research Award, University of Michigan, United States

2002 3M Faculty Award, United States

1999 Graduate College Mentor Award, Arizona State University, United States

1998 Exxon Award, ACS-Solid State Chemistry Division, United States

1997 NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, United States

1995 Exxon Education Foundation Award, United States

2026 Elected Member, Polish Academy of Science, Poland

2026 Elected Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

2026 Elected Member, Korean Academy of Science and Technology, South Korea

2025 Elected Member, Lincean Academy, Italian National Academy of Sciences, Italy

2022 Elected Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany

2022 Elected Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, United States

2022 Elected Honorary Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences, India

2020 Elected Fellow, Royal Physiographic Society of Lund, Sweden

2020 Honorary Member, Jordanian National Academy of Science and Engineering, Jordan

2020 Founding Member, Academy of Arab Scientists, Kuwait

2019 Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences, United States

2019 Elected Honorary Member, Turkish Academy of Sciences, Turkey

2018 Elected Member, The Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), Jordan

2018 Elected Member, European Academy of Sciences, Belgium

1.Selective binding and removal of guests in a microporous metal-organic framework, O. M. Yaghi, G. Li, H. Li, Nature, 1995, 378, 703-706.

2.Establishing microporosity in open metal-organic frameworks: gas sorption isotherms for Zn(BDC) (BDC=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), H. Li, M. Eddaoudi, T. L. Groy, O. M. Yaghi, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120, 8571-8572.

3.Design and synthesis of an exceptionally stable and highly porous metal-organic framework, H. Li, M. Eddaoudi, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Nature, 1999, 402, 276-279.

4.Systematic design of pore size and functionality in metal-organic frameworks and application in methane storage, M. Eddaoudi, J. Kim, N. Rosi, D. Vodak, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2002, 295, 469-472.

5.Reticular synthesis and the design of new materials, O. M. Yaghi, M. O’Keeffe, N. Ockwig, H. K. Chae, M. Eddaoudi, J. Kim, Nature, 2003, 423, 705-714.

6.Hydrogen storage in microporous metal-organic frameworks, N. Rosi, M. Eddaoudi, D. Vodak, J. Eckert, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2003, 300, 1127-1129.

7.A route to high surface area, porosity and inclusion of large molecules in crystals, H. Chae, D. Y. Siberio-Perez, J. Kim, Y. Go, M. Eddaoudi, A. Matzger, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Nature, 2004, 427, 523-527.

8.Metal-Organic Frameworks with Exceptionally High Capacity for Storage of Carbon Dioxide at Room Temperature, A. R. Millward, O. M. Yaghi, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 17998-17999.

9.Porous, crystalline, covalent organic frameworks, A. P. Côté, A. I. Benin, N. W. Ockwig, M. O’Keeffe, A. J. Matzger, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2005, 310, 1166-1170.

10.Gas adsorption sites in a large-pore metal-organic framework, J. L. C. Roswell, E. Spenser, J. Eckert, J. A. K. Howard, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2005, 309, 1350-1354.

11.Reticular chemistry: occurrence and taxonomy of nets, and grammar for the design of frameworks, N. W. Ockwig, O. D. Friedrichs, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Acc. Chem. Res., 2005, 38, 176-182.

12.Exceptional chemical and thermal stability of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, K. S. Park, A. P. Côté, Z. Ni, J. Y. Choi, R. Huang, F. J. Uribe-Romo, H. K. Chae, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2006, 103, 10186-10191.

13.Designed synthesis of 3-D covalent organic frameworks, H. El-Kaderi, J. R. Hunt, J. L. Mendoza-Cortez, A. P. Côté, R. Taylor, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2007, 316, 268-272.

14.High-throughput synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and application to CO₂ capture, R. Banerjee, A. Phan, B. Wang, C. Knobler, H. Furukawa, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2008, 319, 939-943.

15.Colossal cages in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks as selective carbon dioxide reservoirs, B. Wang, H. Furukawa, M. O’Keeffe, O. M. Yaghi, Nature, 2008, 453, 207-212.

16.Ultra-high porosity in metal-organic frameworks, H. Furukawa, N. Ko, Y. B. Go, N. Aratani, S. B. Choi, E. Choi, A. O. Yazaydin, R. Q. Snurr, M. O’Keeffe, J. Kim, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2010, 239, 424-428.

17.Water adsorption in porous metal-organic frameworks and related materials, H. Furukawa, F. Gándara, Y.-B. Zhang, J. Jiang, W. L. Queen, M. R. Hudson, O. M. Yaghi, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 4369-4381.

18.Covalent Organic Frameworks Comprising Cobalt Porphyrins for Catalytic CO₂ Reduction in Water, S. Lin, C. S. Diercks, Y.-B. Zhang, N. Kornienko, E. M. Nichols, Y. Zhao, A. R. Paris, D. Kim, P. Yang, O. M. Yaghi, C. J. Chang, Science, 2015, 349, 1208-1213.

19.Weaving of Organic Threads into a Crystalline Covalent Organic Framework, Y. Liu, Y. Ma, Y. Zhao, X. Sun, F. Gándara, H. Furukawa, Z. Liu, H. Zhu, C. Zhu, K. Suenaga, P. Oleynikov, A. S. Alshammari, X. Zhang, O. Terasaki, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2016, 351, 365-369.

20.Water harvesting from air with metal-organic frameworks powered by natural sunlight, H. Kim, S. Yang, S. R. Rao, S. Narayanan, E. A. Kapustin, H. Furukawa, A. S. Umans, O. M. Yaghi, E. N. Wang, Science, 2017, 356, 430-434.

21.Single-crystal X-ray Diffraction Structures of Covalent Organic Frameworks, T. Ma, E. A. Kapustin, S. X. Yin, L. Liang, Z. Zhou, J. Niu, L. Li, Y. Wang, J. Su, J. Li, X. Wang, W. D. Wang, W. Wang, J. Sun, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2018, 361, 48-52.

22.Porous Crystalline Olefin-Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks, H. Lyu, C. S. Diercks, C. Zhu, O. M. Yaghi, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2019, 141, 6848-6852.

23.MOF water harvester produces water from Death Valley desert air in ambient sunlight,

W. Song, Z. Zheng, A. H. Alawadhi, O. M. Yaghi, Nat. Water, 2023, 1, 626-634.

24.The propensity for covalent organic frameworks to template polymer entanglement, S. E. Neumann, J. Kwon, C. Gropp, L. Ma, R. Giovine, T. Ma, N. Hanikel, K. Wang, T. Chen, S. Jagani, R. O. Ritchie, T. Xu, O. M. Yaghi, Science, 2024, 383, 1337-1343.

25.Carbon dioxide capture from open air using covalent organic frameworks, Z. Zhou, T. Ma, H. Zhang, S. Chheda, H. Li, K. Wang, S. Ehrling, R. Giovine, C. Li, A. H. Alawadhi, M. M. Abduljawad, M. O. Alawad, L. Gagliardi, J. Sauer, O. M. Yaghi, Nature, 2024, 635, 96-101.