Awards > Current Awardees

2024 AWARDEES

This year, AVS honors the following awardees:

MEDARD W. WELCH AWARD

Francisco Zaera, University of California, Riverside
“For far-reaching contributions to the molecular-level understanding of mechanisms of reactions on solid surfaces and the use of that knowledge for applications in heterogeneous catalysis and thin film deposition”
 

This award recognizes and encourages outstanding accomplishments in the fields of interest to AVS. The award consists of a cash award, a medal, a plaque, and an honorary lectureship at a regular session of the International Symposium.

Bio


GAEDE-LANGMUIR AWARD

Reza Ghodssi, University of Maryland, “For pioneering research on developing novel MEMS processes, fabrication, and technologies for micro, nano, and bio-devices and systems and their momentous impact on small-scale power, optical, and biomedical applications”

This award recognizes outstanding discoveries and inventions in the fields of interest to AVS.  The award consists of a cash award, a plaque, and an honorary lectureship at a regular session of the International Symposium.

Bio

PETER MARK MEMORIAL AWARD

Jason Kawasaki, University of Wisconsin, Madison, “For epitaxial synthesis and strain engineering of Heusler films and freestanding membranes”
 
This award recognizes outstanding theoretical or experimental work by an early career scientist or engineer. The award consists of a cash award, a plaque, and an honorary lectureship at a regular session of the International Symposium. 

Bio

GEORGE T. HANYO AWARD

Heinz Schmid, IBM Research Europe, Zurich Laboratory, Switzerland, “In recognition of valuable contributions over the past 4 decades in microfluidics, semiconductor epitaxy, field-effect transistors, and nanophotonic devices”
 
This award recognizes outstanding performance in technical support of research or development in areas of interest to AVS. The award consists of a cash award and a plaque. 

Bio

2024 AVS FELLOWS

AVS Fellows are Platinum Members who have made sustained and outstanding technical contributions in areas of interest to AVS.
Seth Darling, Argonne National Laboratory
“For creative contributions to thin film and functional materials design as well as leadership in research focused on sustainability and water resources”



 
Stephanie Law, Pennsylvania State University
“For contributions to the molecular beam epitaxy of III-V materials and topological insulators for applications in mid-infrared and THz plasmonic and metamaterial devices”



 
Jyh-Wei (Jeff) Lee, Ming Chi University, Taiwan
“For sustained contributions to the science and technology of protective coatings of hard nanolayered transition metal nitrides, refractory high-entropy alloys, and thin film metallic glasses synthesized by plasma-assisted deposition”



 
Bharat Jalan, University of Minnesota
“For highly innovative work and international scientific leadership in the field of crystalline oxide film and heterostructure synthesis and properties by means of metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy”



 
Valeria Lauter, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
“For development and implementation of advanced neutron scattering instrumentation for complex nanostructures, outstanding service to the user community in the field of nanostructured materials, and dedicated service to AVS”



 
Jeff Terry, Illinois Institute of Technology
“For pioneering inventions and significant contributions advancing the study of nuclear materials physics including the development of artificial intelligence analysis tools for materials characterization analysis”



 
Tobias Weidner, Aarhus University, Denmark
“For pioneering contributions to the unravelling of protein structure and study of ultrafast dynamics at interfaces with spectroscopic techniques and for significantly advancing (the Journal) Biointerphases”



 

2024 AVS NATIONAL STUDENT AWARDS

There are five (5) top-level named Graduate Student Awards and three (3) Graduate Research Awards, listed below. The recipients of these awards are determined after a general competition with all the graduate research applicants and a presentation to the Awards Committee. 
 

RUSSELL AND SIGURD VARIAN AWARD

The Russell and Sigurd Varian Award was established in 1982 to commemorate the pioneering work of Russell and Sigurd Varian. It is presented to recognize and encourage excellence in graduate studies in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. The award is supported by Agilent Technologies Vacuum Products Division. It consists of a cash award, a certificate, and reimbursed travel support to attend the International Symposium.

Kaige Shi, University of Central Florida
“Understanding the effects of electrolyte cations and microenvironment on electrocatalytic reactions such as CO2 reduction at the electrode-electrolyte interface”



 

NELLIE YEOH WHETTEN AWARD

The Nellie Yeoh Whetten Award was established in 1989, in the spirit of Nellie Yeoh Whetten, to recognize and encourage excellence by women in graduate studies in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. A fund to support the award was established by Timothy J. Whetten, friends and family of Nellie Yeoh Whetten, and AVS. The award consists of a cash award, a certificate, and reimbursed travel support to attend the International Symposium.

Sarah Willson, University of Chicago
“Elucidating the growth pathways of superconducting Nb3Sn for next-generation particle accelerator cavities”




 

DOROTHY M. AND EARL S. HOFFMAN AWARD

The Dorothy M. and Earl S. Hoffman Award was established in 2002 to recognize and encourage excellence in graduate studies in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. It is funded by a bequest from Dorothy M. Hoffman, who was president of AVS in 1974 and held other positions of responsibility in the Society. The award consists of a cash award, a certificate, and reimbursed travel support to attend the International Symposium.

Nicolas Molina Vergara, The University of Texas at Austin
“Advances in tracer diffusion modeling in thin films using ToF-SIMS depth profiling, notably of water transport in 2D materials”




 

DOROTHY M. AND EARL S. HOFFMAN SCHOLARSHIPS

The Dorothy M. and Earl S. Hoffman Scholarships were established in 2002 to recognize and encourage excellence in graduate studies in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. They are funded by a bequest from Dorothy M. Hoffman. The scholarships consist of a cash award, a certificate, and reimbursed travel support to attend the International Symposium.

Zachary Jeckell, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
“Time resolved ion and electron energy distributions with supplemental fast camera measurements for high-power impulse magnetron sputtering discharges”





Hsiao-Hsuan (Renee) Wan, University of Florida
“Enabling the use of ultra-wide bandgap materials in bio-applications through fabrication, characterization and device development”



 

GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS

The Graduate Research Awards were established in 1984 to recognize and encourage excellence in graduate studies in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. Each consists of a cash award, a certificate, and reimbursed travel support to attend the International Symposium.

Bugrahan Guner, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec
“Investigation of the multi-dimensional dynamic properties of charge carriers in renewable energy materials through customized time-resolved scanning probe microscopy measurements”





Bin Luo, Northeastern University
“Developments in magnetic topological insulators (MTIs) and heterostructures and in magnetoelectric/magnetoacoustic devices for power-efficient RF and quantum technologies”





Mingyu Yu, University of Delaware
“The study of the molecular beam epitaxial growth and properties of layered 2D semiconductors”




 

AVS FORTY YEAR CLUB

The Forty-Year Club consists of current AVS Platinum members who have been active in the Society for 40 years or more. 
For a complete list click here

For more information on any of the awards or recognition mention above, please contact Angela Klink, AVS, angela@avs.org.