National, international awards recognize faculty innovation in ASU's School of Molecular Sciences

The Arizona State University charter describes a commitment to linking innovation with the advancement of research and discovery of public value. The establishment of the School of Molecular Sciences from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry embodies this commitment to research that directly addresses such major public and societal issues.

Current School of Molecular Sciences research takes a molecular approach on issues such as the identification and treatment of disease, the development of new strategies for renewable fuels and the creation of new materials for electronics and nanodevices.

Research at the School of Molecular Sciences has previously been recognized in terms of the quality and impact of its publications. The school is consistently in the top 10 among chemistry and biochemistry programs for publications in the journals Science and Nature, and a study by Thompson Reuters ranked the school No. 6 in terms of publication impact, ahead of MIT, Stanford and Berkeley. 

The school has recently been receiving a different form of national and international recognition in terms of faculty awards. The last two to three years have been particularly successful. 

“Amazing discoveries are taking place at the School of Molecular Sciences,” said Neal Woodbury, director of the School of Molecular Sciences. “We need to share our successes and tell our story; if you choose to attend ASU, you will be getting a world-class education and have the opportunity to work with top-tier faculty and do truly innovative research.” Importantly, these recognitions have been earned by faculty at all levels, from the most junior to the most senior.

The school is proud to highlight the recent accomplishments of its faculty who represent both the foundation and the future of innovative research. 

President's Professor Ariel Anbar

2019 European Association of Geochemistry Science Innovation Award — The award recognizes scientists who have recently made particularly important and innovative breakthroughs in geochemistry.

2017 Teaching Innovator Award — Professor Anbar is recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education in their inaugural list of teaching innovators.

Regents' Professor Austen Angell

2019 Gothenburg Lise Meitner Award — The award from the Gothenburg Physics Centre recognizes a breakthrough discovery in physics.

2018 ISPE Galileo Galilei Award — This award from the International Symposium on Polymer Electrolytes recognizes the promotion of ionic liquids in science.

2018 Otto Schott Research Award — The award recognizes outstanding scientific achievement in the field of glass and ceramics.

Regents' Professor Peter Buseck

2019 Roebling Medal — The Roebling Medal is the highest award of the Mineralogical Society of America for scientific eminence as represented primarily by scientific publication of outstanding original research in mineralogy. 

Assistant Professor Alexander Green

2017 NIH New Innovator Award — The award from the National Institutes of Health supports exceptionally creative early career investigators who propose innovative, high-impact projects.

2017 DARPA Young Faculty Award — The Young Faculty Award program identifies and engages rising stars in junior research positions.

2017 Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship — The fellowship is awarded to early-career scholars described as the most promising scientific researchers working today.

Professor Sidney Hecht

2019 Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) — NAI Senior Members are active faculty who have produced technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society.

Professor Joshua LaBaer

2018 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors — The NAI Fellows Program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation that has made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

Assistant Professor Gary F. Moore

2017 National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Award — The CAREER award is the most competitive and prestigious awards given by the NSF to junior faculty. 

Emeritus Professor Michael O’Keefe

2019 Gregori Aminoff Prize in Crystallography — The Gregori Aminoff Prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. O’Keefe was selected for his fundamental contributions to the development of reticular chemistry.

Associate Professor Steve Presse

2017 National Science Foundation Career Award — The CAREER award is the most competitive and prestigious awards given by the NSF to junior faculty.

Professor Everett Shock

2019 ACS Geochemistry Division Medal — The American Chemical Society Geochemistry Medal is awarded for outstanding accomplishment in geochemistry.

Assistant Professor Nicholas Stephanopoulos

2018 National Science Foundation Career Award — The CAREER award is the most competitive and prestigious awards given by the NSF to junior faculty.

2018 NIH New Innovator Award — The award from the National Institutes of Health supports exceptionally creative early-career investigators who propose innovative, high-impact projects.

2016 Air Force Young Investigator Award — The Young Investigator Award supports scientists showing exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research.

Associate Professor Ryan Trovitch

2017 National Science Foundation Career Award — The most competitive and prestigious awards given by the NSF to junior faculty.

Milton D. Glick Distinguished Professor Hao Yan

2019 Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2019 — Awarded to visionary leaders who have moved an industry forward in an unprecedented way. Yan received the award for his work using nanobots to fight cancerous tumors by choking off their blood supply.