The Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry has a rich history, a strong international reputation, and a bright future. Our curricula provide the educational foundation for all Virginia Tech science and engineering students. Our undergraduate and graduate degree programs prepare society's future scientists. Our alumni are gainfully employed in the industrial, government, and academic sectors.
Marand Receives Clifford Service Award
(May 15, 2012) Prof. Herve’ Marand has received the
2012 Clifford Faculty Service Award. This award, named in honor of Prof. Alan F. Clifford who served as department chair from 1966-1981, recognizes outstanding service to the department. Prof. Marand has a long career of service, having served on both of the department’s elected committees (Executive and Personnel), numerous faculty search committees, ten years on the Graduate Honor Court, and has most recently participated in the Executive Development Institute—a university program to identify and mentor future leaders. Prof. Marand also serves as the Associate Chair of the Department of Chemistry. (
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Morris Receives the Schug Research Award
(May 15, 2012) Prof. John R. Morris is the recipient of the
2012 John C. Schug Research Award. This award was established by E. Gary Cook (a VT alum) to recognize faculty members who demonstrate exceptional creativity and productivity in their research. His research interests are in the broadly defined area of surface science, with particular emphasis on gas adsorption and scattering from model surfaces, and gas-surface reaction dynamics with applications in the environment and in catalysis. Prof. Morris is the first chemistry faculty member to win all three major departmental awards for teaching (2010), research (2012), and service (2009). (
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Edwards Receives McNair Staff Service Award
(May 15, 2012) The Department is pleased to announce that Ms. Melba Edwards has received the
2012 Harold M. McNair Staff Service Award for the second time. Named in honor of Prof. Harold McNair, who served as head of the chemistry department from 1990-92, this award recognizes exemplary service by a member of our staff. Ms. Edwards serves in our bookkeeping office and oversees the department’s major accounts. (
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Crawford Receives Viers Teaching Award
(May 15, 2012) Prof. Daniel Crawford has received the 2012 Jimmy Viers Teaching Award, which was established by one of our alumni, E. Gary Cook, to recognize outstanding teaching in the Department of Chemistry. Prof. Crawford is honored for his exemplary efforts in general chemistry (majors section), and has the distinction of being the first two-time recipient of this award. He has previously been awarded the Certificate of Teaching Excellence, and is the 2012 recipient of the prestigious Alumni Award for Research Excellence. (more on Crawford)
DeSimone Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
(May 3, 2012) Prof. Joseph DeSimone (PhD 1990) was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for his excellence in original scientific research in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering. Membership in the NAS is one of the highest honors given to a scientist or engineer in the U.S. DeSimone, currently Chancellor's Eminent Professor of Chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill, was cited for innovation in a number of fields, but particularly for "revolutionizing the development of healthcare products for a global population.” (
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Crawford Receives Alumni Research Award
(April 23, 2012) Prof. Daniel Crawford has been awarded the 2012 Alumni Award for Research Excellence. This premier university award recognizes his significant contributions to theoretical and computational chemistry with applications to health science. Crawford has developed a series of quantum mechanical models capable of high-accuracy simulations of the interaction of polarized light with chiral molecules, a class of compounds that includes most modern medicines ranging from chemical sedatives to anti-tumor agents. These new computational tools will shorten the development time of new chiral drugs by years or even decades. (more on Crawford)
Durrill Receives 2012 Sporn Award
(May 7, 2012)
Preston Durrill, Adjunct Prof. of Chemical Engineering and an Instructor in Chemistry, has received the 2012 Sporn Award for Excellence in Engineering Education for the second time (he was also a 2006 Sporn recipient). VT’s Student Engineers’ Council selects one faculty member out of the more than 300 in the college to receive this honor. "Preston is the epitome of what an educator should be. He is a gifted teacher who has a remarkable passion for his students. We are truly fortunate to have him at Virginia Tech," said John Walz, professor and department head of chemical engineering.
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Long Receives 2012 Teaching-Learning Award
(April 11, 2012) Prof. Gary L. Long is one of two recipients of the university's
2011-2012 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, which recognizes faculty members who have dedicated themselves to advancing higher education teaching and learning. Long remains committed to developing new technology and new ideas that better link the lab experience to learning gains in the chemistry classroom. (
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