On Apr. 9, 2021, the American Chemical Society awarded The Priestley Medal to Paul Alivisatos “to recognize distinguished services to chemistry,” the Society’s most prestigious award.

Alivisatos was Berkeley Labs Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences from 2005 to 2007, and in 2008 was appointed Deputy Laboratory Director under Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) Director Steven Chu. When Chu resigned to become Secretary of Energy, Alivisatos became Interim Director. In 2009, he became director of Berkeley Lab.

Currently, he is Samsung Distinguished Professor of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and a professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering at UC Berkeley, as well as the university’s executive vice chancellor and provost. He is director emeritus of Berkeley Lab.