The Chemistry Department gathered for a recognition assembly on May 3 in a large lecture hall of Sterling Chemistry Laboratory, where Chair Kurt W. Zilm paid tribute to the community’s hard work and accomplishments.
As department members took their seats, alumni logged in to watch the presentation from afar.
Professor Zilm welcomed new graduate students, who he called “the lifeblood of the research in the department,” along with new postdocs, associate research scientists, preceptors, and staff.
Among the presentation highlights were Chemistry in the news with topics spanning across research findings, faculty start-ups, staff profiles, student awards, and alumni promotions.
Colorful photos of poster sessions, symposia lectures, lawn games, and pets with Handsome Dan showed a year full of lively events while photos of children running experiments illustrated the many outreach programs offered by the department.
Professor Zilm gave a special shout out to all the staff and student and postdoc volunteers who orchestrated the three student recruitment Visiting Days. He also thanked alumni for their gifts, which are key to the event’s success.
Faculty, postdoc, graduate student, and undergraduate student awards were celebrated as well as staff service anniversaries, with glass drinkware gifts crafted by Chemistry’s Glassblower Daryl Smith.
This year the department established the Charles A. Schmuttenmaer Prize, in memory of the late Chemistry professor (1964 – 2020), to one graduating Ph.D. student in Chemistry who excels academically and displays outstanding departmental citizenship. The inaugural prize went to Sarah Ostresh, a student of the Schmuttenmaer Lab.
