Three faculty members from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prashant Kamat, Kelley Young, and Graham Peaslee, have been selected as recipients of 2024 University Awards.
Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science, is a winner of the James A. Burns, C.S.C., Award from the Notre Dame Graduate School. Kamat was selected for his outstanding mentorship of graduate students, having served as advisor to 35 doctoral students. Not only have his students been successful at Notre Dame, as reflected in the numerous fellowships and awards they regularly receive, many have gone on to highly successful careers in both academia and industry. A leading expert in solar renewable energy, Kamat has published over 500 papers and books and has been recognized annually since 2014 in the Thomson Reuters list of Most Cited Researchers. He is the Editor-in-Chief of ACS Energy Letters and a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society, the American Chemical Society, the Materials Research Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has also received numerous international awards including the Storch Award in Energy Chemistry, the Porter Medal in Photochemistry, and the Richard Smalley Award.
Kelley Young, Associate Teaching Professor and Boler Family Director of the Mary E. Galvin Science & Engineering Scholars Program, is the recipient of the Thomas P. Madden Award. This award recognizes exceptional leadership in teaching first year students. Her passion for student success was particularly displayed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she invested significant effort to adjust a class of nearly 250 students so that they could meet physical spacing requirements and still be able to see and hear the lecture clearly. She is also deeply committed to her role as director of the Science & Engineering Scholars program, which aims to provide students interested in STEM majors, but lacking high school preparation such as AP courses, with learning programs and peer support in order to lay a foundation for success in all their studies at Notre Dame. Students consistently remark on her effectiveness as an educator and positive influence on their academic careers.
Graham Peaslee, Concurrent Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Professor of Physics, is the winner of the Hesburgh Legacy Award, recognizing academic contributions to social justice and peace, particularly on topics of strategic importance to the University. Peaslee was selected for his work in studying environmental pollutants, especially PFAS, that are widespread and have long-term negative health consequences. He has extensively worked on cost-effective mitigation strategies that are community friendly and that protect public health. His work has been published in many leading journals, and it has been featured in radio, TV, and print news.