SMU student receives national award in green chemistry
Shannon R. Woodruff, an SMU graduate student in chemistry, was one of four national recipients of the Ciba Travel Award in Green Chemistry awarded annually by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
DALLAS (SMU) – Shannon R. Woodruff, an SMU graduate student in chemistry, was one of four national recipients of the Ciba Travel Award in Green Chemistry awarded annually by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
 Shannon R. Woodruff |
“We are researching how to make new materials for everything from treating diseases to developing new technologies,’ Woodruff said. “Our goal is to make these materials using fewer chemicals so that our methods are less harmful to the environment, while helping people lead better lives. We are doing some very exciting work that will hopefully be widely-used in the future.”
The annual award sponsors the participation of high school, undergraduate and graduate students in an ACS technical meeting, conference or training program to expand the students’ education in green chemistry.
Woodruff used his award to attend the 245th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans in early April, where he made a presentation about his research.
Woodruff has been a strong advocate of chemistry education, and participates in elementary school demonstrations and science events. The ACS Award Committee noted that Woodruff has great “potential for a career in green chemistry.”
Woodruff is a Ph.D. candidate in the research lab of Professor Nicolay V. Tsarevsky from SMU’s Department of Chemistry in Dedman College. The lab focuses on the synthesis of polymers with controlled molecular weight and architecture for use in biomedical applications. For more information, visit http://faculty.smu.edu/nvt/.
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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. For more information, visit www.acs.org.