Welcome Message from the Dean
Welcome to the Division of Mathematical, Life, and Physical Sciences (MLPS) at UC Santa Barbara. After serving as Interim Dean since 2024, I am honored to continue leading a division known for its exceptional faculty, outstanding students, and dynamic research community. Our faculty are global leaders in their fields and make our division a cornerstone of scientific excellence in Santa Barbara and across California. Our academic departments and interdisciplinary programs span the molecular to the planetary scale. Whether you are a prospective student, a researcher, or a member of our broader community, I invite you to explore MLPS. Discover our pioneering research, learn about our academic programs, and see how we are preparing the next generation of scientists, scholars, and changemakers.
Sincerely,
Shelly Gable
Dean, Mathematical, Life, and Physical Sciences
Susan and Bruce Worster Dean of Science
UC Santa Barbara
Division Highlights
Nobel Prize Winners
Celebrating excellence with two laureates in Physics and two in Chemistry, highlighting the division’s groundbreaking contributions to science.
30+
NAS Members
More than 30 professors are elected members of the National Academy of Sciences.
$318M NSF Funding
This represents the total NSF award obligations to UC Santa Barbara over the last five fiscal years (2020-2024). This significant investment has funded 344 new awards and supported the work of 353 university researchers across the sciences.
Source: U.S. National Science Foundation, FY 2020-2024 Data (As of August 22, 2025)
Renowned
Faculty
Our faculty have earned numerous national medals and prizes, including the National Medal of Science, National Medal of Technology, and Millennium Technology Prize.
13
Academic Departments and Interdisciplinary Programs
Our departments house world-class faculty who lead transformative research, mentor students and advance science across disciplines.
40+
Undergraduate Majors & Graduate Programs
More than 40 undergraduate majors and graduate degrees across MLPS departments provide diverse pathways for students, including unique interdisciplinary programs in environmental studies and marine science.
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