Two researchers in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences were among the 56 researchers named as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on young professionals at the outset of their careers. The award, which was presented at the White House this past July, went to Benjamin J. McCall, an assistant professor in chemistry and astronomy, and Michael S. Strano, an assistant professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering.
McCall's research brings a unique perspective to combining laboratory work with observational astronomy. He and his students will make a group of exotic molecules in the laboratory to measure its unique electromagnetic fingerprint. With knowledge of these fingerprints, McCall and other scientists will then look for evidence of the same molecules throughout the universe.
McCall's hope is that measuring the abundances of these molecules in a variety of environments can help answer larger questions about the chemical processes occurring in space. Besides his research, McCall is working to introduce the field of astrochemistry to the next generation of young scientists.
Strano is addressing key technical challenges in the manipulation and control of carbon nanotube structures, thereby enabling new applications in a wide variety of sensors, including medical devices. He is developing interactive software models that will be tested at Illinois and elsewhere.
Strano's education activities include an outreach program that partners the College of Education at the U. of I. with several local area schools, bringing enhanced science education to classrooms that are otherwise disadvantaged.
Scott Kelly, in U. of I.'s College of Engineering, also received one of the awards.
The young scientists and engineers receive up to a five-year research grant to further their study in support of critical government missions. The federal agencies involved include the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation
