Professor Catherine Murphy, Head of the Department of Chemistry, presented annual awards to seven undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry during the Spring 2022 Convocation ceremony on May 15 at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
Ayman Roslend — John C. Bailar Award
Ayman Roslend was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Professor Catherine Murphy. The John C. Bailar Award was established to honor students whose undergraduate research work is especially exemplary. John C. Bailar, Jr., was a Professor of Chemistry at Illinois from 1928 until his death in 1991. Known as the “father of coordination chemistry in the U.S.” John Bailar trained 90 PhD students, 38 postdoctoral fellows, and numerous bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates, making the University of Illinois a world-renowned leader in inorganic chemistry.
Andrew Feng — Reynold C. Fuson Award
Andrew Feng was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Professor Scott Denmark.
The Reynold C. Fuson Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research by a graduating senior. Reynold Clayton Fuson, known as “R.C.” Fuson, was a distinguished member of the chemistry faculty from 1927 to 1963. Fuson’s stature as a research scientist was outstanding, yet his deepest interest was always in the teaching and welfare of students.
Nawal Alghoraibi — Carl S. Marvel Award
Nawal Alghoraibi was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Professor Andrew Gewirth.
The Carl S. Marvel Award was established to honor a top student for distinction in undergraduate research. Carl S. Marvel, known as “Speed” Marvel, received a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1920. Professor Marvel went on to teach at Illinois from 1920 until 1961. He was one of the world’s leading experts in polymer chemistry, what the public knows as plastics. During World War II, when supplies of natural rubber were disrupted, he made important contributions to the commercial production of synthetic rubber. He later discovered several classes of what are now known as high temperature polymers, especially the benzimidazoles, which are today the principal ingredient in flame-resistant suits worn by firefighters.
Claire Zimmerman — John David Barnwell Memorial Award
Claire Zimmerman was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Professor Lisa Olshansky.
The John David Barnwell Memorial Award in Chemistry was established in 2000 and recognizes a student who exemplifies academic achievement along with a high personal standard of ethics and scholarship and a passion for the arts. John David Barnwell entered the University of Illinois as an undergraduate student in 1971 as a double major in Chemistry and English, was also in the honors Biology program and studied philosophy and music, graduating summa cum laude and earning Bronze Tablet honors in 1975. He received his PhD in Chemical Physics at Harvard University in 1983 and taught there and at Bowdoin College in Maine.
Kaibo Feng — P3 Medal for Graduate Research Excellence
Kaibo Feng was a graduate student researcher in the lab of Professor M. Christina White. In 2013, ACS past-president and U of I alumna Dr. Marinda Wu, who obtained her PhD in chemistry at Illinois in 1976, established the “Partners for Progress and Prosperity”, or P3 Award, to raise awareness of the importance of working with others and partnering for mutual benefit. As an additional component of this award, Dr. Wu has provided the Department with a gold-plated medal to recognize the graduating PhD award recipient for outstanding graduate research. The award is given in the memory of Dr. Wu’s PhD advisor and mentor, Professor Russell S. Drago, who was a member of the Illinois faculty from 1955 to 1982.
Maya Chattoraj and Conrad Milton — Worth H. Rodebush Award
Maya Chattoraj was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Professor Prashant Jain, and Conrad Milton was an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Professor Mei Shen.
The Worth H. Rodebush Award was established in 1959 and is based upon academic merit and is for students who intend to make a career of chemistry. Professor Worth H. Rodebush was a physical chemist who gained an international reputation while a member of the University of Illinois chemistry faculty. He received his PhD in 1917 while working with Wendell Latimer at the University of California, Berkeley. With Latimer, he developed the concept and theory of the hydrogen bond. He came to the University of Illinois in 1921, continuing as a member of the faculty until his retirement in 1955.
