Caltech Mourns the Loss of Alum Dr. William Klug in Wednesday’s UCLA Shooting

Caltech is mourning the loss of UCLA professor and Caltech alum William S. Klug (PhD mechanical engineering, conferred in 2004) who was shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide on the UCLA campus on Wednesday.

Police identified Klug’s killer as Mainak Sarkar, a former engineering doctoral student.

In a statement, Caltech officials said “Professor Klug’s death was the result of a terrible act of violence and we are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of an accomplished scholar, husband, and father. The thoughts of the entire Caltech community are with Professor Klug’s family, colleagues, and students at this difficult time, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to them.”

A longtime collaborator with Caltech faculty, Professor Klug was passionate about his work at the intersection of mechanics and biology. His early explorations investigated the mechanics of DNA packaging in viruses. In recent years, he had become very interested in modeling the biomechanics of the heart, particularly its electrophysiology.

“Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni will remember an exemplary and compassionate human being who was dedicated to his family and an exceptional scholar, colleague, mentor, and friend,” the statement said.