ISU Chemistry Professor Wins ACS Award

Date: 9/27/06
Contact: Kathy Beal

Illinois State University's Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Cheryl Stevenson is the recipient of the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution, which includes all United States universities that do not have a Ph.D. program in Chemistry.

Stevenson's work, "The Second Triannulenylene," was published by the Journal of the American Chemical Society and was later featured as the Editor's Choice in Science. The undergraduate student who worked with her on the research is now a graduate student at Stanford. That work described the discovery of triannulenylenes, which are materials that may work in liquid displays such as LCDs. Stevenson was also recognized for her published work on molecular electronics for future computer applications.

"What I try to instill most is motivation for chemical research," Stevenson said. "It is important to have background information from classroom work and use it to do something new and exciting, something that has never been seen before."

The ACS national award recognizes individual or team accomplishments in diverse fields of the chemical sciences and is an annual feature of the society's spring national meeting. Each recipient is required to appear in person to receive the award in March, and to deliver an award address on the scientific work that is being recognized.

"We are delighted to see this wonderful recognition of Professor Stevenson's terrific scientific contributions and to this award shine a spotlight on the outstanding research opportunities and accomplishments of our undergraduate chemistry majors," said Clifford Dykstra, Chemistry department chair.