Summer Electrochemistry Academy (SEA)
The Summer Electrochemistry Academy courses give you the fundamental and practical experience including laboratory and research-project based courses to jump start your career in electrochemistry. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for research and development in electrochemical technology, with particular focus on energy storage and conversion (batteries, electrolyzers, fuel cells), electrochemical production of materials and chemicals, along with traditional training in electroplating and corrosion science. Students will learn the underlying thermodynamic, kinetic, electrostatic and transport science needed to understand and design complex electrochemical devices and processes as well as gain hand-on experience with electrochemical measurements and assembling and testing electrochemical devices.
The Electrochemistry Summer Academy is hosted by the Center for Electrochemical Science, Engineering and Technology (CESET) through the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and is well-suited for students across chemistry / chemical engineering, physics, materials science, and mechanical engineering disciplines.
As a summer program, these courses are open to enrollment from non UC Berkeley students, including those enrolled in any other university, including international students, as well as non-traditional students and industry professionals.
Students are able to enroll in one, two, or all three courses. (see pre-req. below)
By participating in this program, students will be well-prepared for possible research opportunities at UC Berkeley or LBNL in electrochemical science and engineering as well as for possible internships via industrial affiliates. We are currently working with relevant science and engineering departments to include these courses as approved electives or as allied subject courses.
If you are unsure if you meet the pre-req. requirements or would like a pre-requireiment waiver for your specific situation, please email electrochemistry@berkeley.edu
Each summer we offer a mix of courses:
CHM ENG 186/286 Fundamental Electrochemistry 3 Units
Terms offered: Summer Session A: First 6 Week Session
Electrochemistry is a field of science that describes the interrelation of chemical and electrical effects. Much of the field deals with describing how chemical changes are caused by the passage of electrical current or how the production of electrical current can be caused by chemical reactions. Electrochemists rely on a foundational understanding of chemical thermodynamics and electrostatics, chemical and electron-transfer kinetics, and mass-transport phenomena – each of which are treated and developed in this course in the context of electrochemical phenomena. Additional topics include electrochemical instrumentation, practical electrochemistry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Prerequisites: Undergraduates in CHMENG 186 are generally expected to have completed junior-level courses in their major. Students finishing the typical 2nd year science / engineering courses in CBE, CHEM, MSE, Phys, may email the instructor for approval to enroll.
syllabus_chmeng186_-_286_electrochemistry_fundamentals.pdf
CHM ENG 187/287 Electrochemical Device Engineering 3 Units
Terms offered: Summer Session D: 2025 Second 6 Week Session
Electrochemical engineering combines the study of charge transfer at electrode/electrolyte interfaces with the development of practical materials and processes. Electrochemical devices/reactors, their voltage and current distribution, mass-transport, hydrodynamics, geometry, and overall performance in terms of reaction yield, conversion efficiency, and energy efficiency are examined. Electrochemical energy storage (batteries and capacitors), energy conversion (low- and high-temperature fuel cells and electrolyzers), and metal plating and electrosynthesis devices are covered. Fundamental chemistry, physics, and engineering principles that govern device response are emphasized.
Prerequisites: CHMENG 186/286 Advanced Electrochemistry Fundamentals
syllabus_chmeng187_-_287_electrochemical_engineering.pdf
CHM ENG 188/288 Electrochemical Projects Laboratory 3 Units
Terms offered: Summer Session D: Second 6 Week Session
Students work in teams to solve open-ended research and development projects in electrochemical science, engineering, and technology. The projects for the course come from industry partners, national laboratory partners, and academic research laboratories. This allows the students to develop skills solving unstructured problems representative of what they will face in their career. Example projects span electrolysis and fuel cells, interfacial electrochemistry, batteries, and electrosynthesis.
Prerequisites: CHEMENG 186/286 Electrochemistry Fundamentals
Instructor Approval Required: We ask all students interested in taking the projects laboratory course recieve instructor approval by emailing a description of your interest in the course and a short resume and transcript to electrochemistry@berkeley.edu
syllabus_chmeng188_-_288_electrochemical_science_and_engineering_projects_laboratory.pdf
Electrochemistry Science, Engineering, and Technology Summer Minor
For summer 2026, two additional courses are in the process of being approved:
CHM ENG 189/289 Battery Science and Engineering 3 Units
Terms offered: Summer Session D: Second 6 Week Session
This course develops a unified framework for understanding and engineering batteries from atomic-scale materials physics to cell performance and manufacturing approaches. The course covers ion/electron transport, concentrated electrolyte theory, structure and defect chemistry and diffusion in battery relevant solids, and interfacial structure and charge transfer, and kinetics in solid electrodes and electrolytes (liquid, polymer, and solid-state). Applications emphasize Li-ion, Na-ion, and solid-state systems, characterization and diagnostics, and connections to battery manufacturing and recycling. Fundamental chemistry, physics, and engineering principles governing battery response are emphasized throughout.
CH 195 Organic Electrochemistry 3 Units
Terms offered: Summer Session A: First 6 Week Session
This course will cover the electrochemical methods and strategies needed to appraise, compare, and critically evaluate technologies at the interface of organic chemistry and electrochemistry. The course is divided into three parts. The first covers fundamental aspects of electrochemistry, electrochemical testing, and spectroscopy specific to the characterization of organic materials. The second provides a rigorous introduction to fine and commodity chemical organic electrosynthetic reactions and processes. The third examines two emerging industrial applications: grid-scale storage and carbon dioxide removal, and the translational challenges involved in bringing these technologies to maturity. In this course, students will learn fundamental organic electrochemical strategies and techniques, as well as considerations for future upscaling and analysis of key performance figures of merit. The course will culminate in a final white paper in which students propose an original electrochemical process which addresses current challenges in chemical industry or decarbonization. Course material will be delivered in person, with four interactive lectures per week and an additional guest lecture every other week recorded and posted online. A total of 4 problem sets will be administered over the duration of the course along with a final original project proposal (2 pages). Group study and collaboration are encouraged and expected. Readings will be drawn from selected texts and primary literature.
This 5-course sequence will comprise a Summer Minor in Electrochemical Science, Engineering, and Technology (still to be approved). This will be the first of it's kind in the Nation.
Questions: electrochemistry@berkeley.edu
