Christopher Bates, an assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara, received the 2021 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, providing him with $100,000 for research on bottlebrush copolymers. His work will leverage UCSB’s advanced facilities to optimize molecular designs for enhanced performance in various applications.

Professor Ellen Sletten has won the 2020-2021 McCoy Award for her significant contributions to chemistry and biochemistry. She developed bright fluorophores for shortwave infrared emission, enabling non-invasive imaging through skin and tissue, with potential applications in safe, low-cost optical diagnostics in clinical settings.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a renewal of funding for the Materials Innovation Platform (MIP) national user facility at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute (MRI), the Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium (2DCC). The 2DCC, which has many users from the Eberly College of Science, is one of four MIPs in the United States and was awarded $20.1 million over five years, an increase of 13% above the initial award in 2016.

Cornell’s Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM) has received a second award of $22.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund another five years, enabling scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs nationwide to design and create new inorganic materials for use in electronics.

UC Santa Barbara's Glenn Fredrickson was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2021. He holds a joint appointment in Materials and Chemical Engineering, directs MC-CAM, and has received numerous awards. Fredrickson is also involved in multiscale modeling and computation at the BioPACIFIC MIP.

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering has elected Heather Maynard and Megan Valentine to its College of Fellows for their significant contributions in protein-polymer synthesis and biomaterials analysis, respectively. This honor recognizes elite engineers who have made impactful advancements in medical and biological engineering.

Two UC Santa Barbara engineers, Craig Hawker and Rachel Segalman, have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2021. They were recognized for their significant contributions in materials and chemistry, with Segalman focusing on semiconducting block polymers and Hawker on polymer chemistry and molecular engineering.

Prof. Heather Maynard, a leader in protein-polymer conjugates and co-Director of BioPACIFIC MIP, has been appointed as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Her contributions to synthetic methods and material properties, coupled with her commitment to collaboration, exemplify her dedication to advancing chemical sciences.

The California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA successfully adapted its nanoscience education programs to an online format during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling continued community engagement. Under Dr. Rita Blaik's leadership, hands-on experiments were restructured for home use, enhancing outreach opportunities and supporting the BioPACIFIC MIP's educational mission.