Irene Abia won YCC Leadership Development Award

November 30, 2010 by chemweb

Chemistry Graduate Students Irene Abia from Dr. Baker‘s group received Leadership Development Award from Younger Chemists Committee (YCC) of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

The award will support Abia to attend the YCC Leadership Development Workshop. This YCC program recognizes emerging leaders in the profession and helps them prepare for the leadership opportunities at volunteer organizations, such as ACS, and in their professional careers.

Abia will attend the workshop from Friday, January 21, 2011, to Sunday, January 23, 2011. The workshop is held in conjunction with the ACS Leadership Institute, in Fort Worth, Texas. During the workshop, participants will engage in discussions about the characteristics and behaviors of effective leaders, identify leadership skills, develop a personal leadership development plan, and learn about leadership opportunities in the American Chemical Society.

Irene Esah Abia (Angeh) was born in Buea, Cameroon. After graduating from Bilingual Grammar School Buea in 1997, she attended the University of Buea where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. In 2003, she enrolled into the Medical University of Southern Africa, South Africa where she obtained an Honors Bachelor degree in Chemistry. From 2003 to 2006, she went on to study at the University of Pretoria, South Africa where she conducted research with Professor Kobus Eloff earning a Master’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry. In the fall of 2006, she moved to the United States and joined the research group of Professor David C. Baker at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she is conducting research in the synthesis of carbohydrates. Prior to this award, Abia also received CIBA Young Scientist Award.

Dr. Jimmy Mays awarded Navigator Awards

November 15, 2010 by chemweb

Eric Dobson, CEO of TrakLok Corp., was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Technology 2020’s Innovation Valley Technology Council.

Dobson is the former CEO of Navigational Sciences Inc. He co-founded TrakLok in 2008 to develop and commercialize both GeoLock hardware and Traklog software to manage container security and provide the industry’s first complete intermodal tracking security system. Earlier this year, Dobson acquired local company TeleSensors to provide electronic design and development, and wireless sensor platform.

Also honored with the council’s Navigator Awards were:

n MS Technology of Oak Ridge, Technology Company of the Year. Founded in 1994 as a Tech 2020 incubator client, MS Technology began building its business with microwave melting technology developed at the Y-12 National Security Complex. A graduate of Y-12’s mentor protege program in 2008, MS Technology employs 160 individuals.

n Jimmy Mays, a University of Tennessee chemistry professor, and Lee Bzorgi, director of the National Security Technology Center at Y-12, Pathfinder Research Entrepreneur of the Year.

“Dr. Mays and Dr. Bzorgi have a distinguished history of innovation and entrepreneurship,” said John Hopkins, the Tech Council’s chairman. “And while their accomplishments and awards in transforming ideas into useful products are tremendous, the work they do to educate and mentor area teachers and students is also critically important in building a sustainable entrepreneurial eco-system.”

n Materials and Chemistry Laboratory Inc., Community Spirit Award. Barry Stephenson serves as president and CEO of the company that supports technology-based educational programs at Oak Ridge schools and Roane State Community College.

n Sam Hart, Knoxville Chamber’s technology and manufacturing consultant, Member of the Year. “Sam is one of those unique individuals that goes above and beyond the call of duty to help out with any request, problem or task,” Hopkins said.

Dai Named ORNL’s Top Scientist by UT-Battelle

November 15, 2010 by chemweb

OAK RIDGE, Tenn., — Sheng Dai, professor at the Chemistry Department and researcher in the Chemical Sciences Division of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has earned the UT-Battelle Director’s Award for Outstanding Individual Accomplishment in Science and Technology. He was honored by ORNL Director Thom Mason for “world-class leadership in the synthesis and application of novel functional porous materials, nanomaterials and ionic liquids to energy-relevant problems.” Dai, who was also named this year’s distinguished scientist at UT-Battelle’s annual Awards Night, is an internationally recognized leader in the design, synthesis and application of mesoporous materials and ionic liquids to problems related to the nation’s energy challenges. Dai was cited for his innovative breakthroughs in advanced materials that can be applied toward technologies ranging from improved batteries for electric vehicles to catalytic systems for water purification.  He leads his division’s nanomaterials chemistry group and is also a task co-leader for the catalysis research effort in the multiscale functionality group at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences. (http://www.ornl.gov/news)

Horton and Njiojob won 2010 BoV Graduate Student Poster Competition

November 13, 2010 by chemweb

Chemistry Graduate Students Rebecca Horton from Dr. Frank Vogt‘s group and Costyl Njiojob from Dr. David Baker‘s group won 2010 Board of Visitors Graduate Students Poster Competition.

2010 Department of Chemistry Board of Visitors Annual Meeting was held on Nov. 12 and 13 in Buehler Hall 511. Followed by a report and discussion of the news, changes and development inside the department,, the Board of Visitors members served as judges for this year’s Graduate Student Poster Competition.

Eleven groups participated in the competition. The winners Horton and Njiojob are invited to give presentations during the Department’s annual student presentation on April 14, 2011.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to give a seminar to my peers.
The poster session and seminar are great ways to practice good communication skills and what better way to do so than in front of the faculty and fellow students.” Horton said.

Horton came to UT from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN.  Her recent achievements in research involve growing microalgae under different environmental conditions along with sample preparation methods of species for spectroscopic analyses.

“I am planning for a December 2011 graduation.” Horton mentioned her plan after graduation. “Upon graduating, I would like to work in an industrial setting and later transition into academia at a small college. By having the perspective of both my graduate career and also the industrial experience, I feel I would be better prepared to mentor students on their chosen career paths.”

The other poster winner Costyl Njiojob, a native Cameroonian, was born in Nigeria (Plateau State) where he received elementary education. Njiojob then moved back to Cameroon with his family and completed high school there. In 1999, Njiojob entered the University of Buea to pursue Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. After graduation, he remained in the university and conducted a year of graduate research in Natural product chemistry. Njiojob joined Dr. Baker’s group at UT Chemistry Department with a concentration in organic synthesis in 2006.

Njiojob expressed his gratitude toward people inside the Department, “…it feels like a recognition to all the efforts being put in everyday to do research and all what I can say is thanks to everyone in the department who has been of great help to me since I started graduate studies”.

Njiojob is expected to graduate in August 2011 and would like to continue with his research in scientific community.

Besides Horton and Njiojob, the Board also suggested that honorable mention should be made of Michael Peretich from Dr. Barnes group and Belinda Lady from Dr. Foister’s group.