Faculty Awards and Honors
Faculty Awards and Recognitions
Our award-winning faculty have been honored for their dedication to research, education, and public engagement by numerous societies and organizations. Each of these awards represents not only the personal achievements of our faculty but also the collaborative spirit of our department and countless collaborators, partners, mentors, and students.
National and International
National Academy of Engineering, Member
Charles F. Zukoski (2007)
Richard C. Alkire (1988)
Harry G. Drickamer* (1979)
Walter G. May* (1978)
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1974)
James W. Westwater* (1974)
National Academy of Sciences, Member
Steve Granick (2015)
Thomas Hanratty* (1999)
Harry G. Drickamer* (1965)
Roger Adams* (1929)
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow
Hong Yang (2015)
Brendan A. Harley (2014)
Huimin Zhao (2010)
William S. Hammack (2008)
Edmund G. Seebauer (2007)
Deborah E. Leckband (2005)
Richard C. Alkire (1996)
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fellow
Kenneth Schweizer (2021)
Thomas Hanratty* (1997)
American Physical Society, Fellow
William S. Hammack (2009)
Edmund G. Seebauer (2008)
Kenneth S. Schweizer (1996)
Steve Granick (1992)
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Fellow
Brendan Harley (2019)
Hyunjoon Kong (2017)
Huimin Zhao (2009)
Deborah E. Leckband (2005)
Biomedical Engineering Society, Fellow
Brendan Harley (2021)
Deborah E. Leckband (2014)
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Fellow
Edmund G. Seebauer (2011)
American Vacuum Society, Fellow
Edmund G. Seebauer, 2001
American Chemical Society, Fellow
Deborah E. Leckband (2009)
U.S. Department of State, Jefferson Fellow
William S. Hammack (2005-2006)
ACS Exxon Fellow in Solid State Chemistry
William S. Hammack (1992)
NSF CAREER Award
Xiao Su (2019)
Simon Rogers (2019)
Diwakar Shukla (2018)
Ying Diao (2018)
Charles E. Sing (2017)
David W. Flaherty (2016)
Andrew L. Ferguson (2013)
Brendan A. Harley (2013)
Charles M. Schroeder (2013)
Hyun Joon Kong (2009)
Christopher V. Rao (2007)
Paul J.A. Kenis (2006)
Hong Yang (2005)
Huimin Zhao (2004)
Deborah E. Leckband (1995)
NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award
Edmund G. Seebauer (1988)
Charles F. Zukoski (1986)
Jonathan J.L. Higdon (1984)
NSF Award for Special Creativity
Steve Granick (1993, 2012)
NAE U.S. Frontiers of Engineering
Charles Sing (2018)
Ying Diao (2017)
Brendan Harley (2016)
Charles M. Schroeder (2012)
Huimin Zhao (2009)
Paul J. A. Kenis (2008)
NIH FIRST Award
Deborah E. Leckband (1994)
NIH Pathway to Independence Award
Charles M. Schroeder (2006-2011)
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
AIChE 35 Under 35 Award in the Chemicals & Materials category
Charles Sing (2020)
AIChE ComMSEF Impact Award
Baron Peters (2019)
AIChE ComMSEF Young Investigator Award for Modeling & Simulation
Diwakar Shukla (2018)
AIChE Biotechnology Progress Award for Excellence in Biological Engineering Publication
Huimin Zhao (2017)
AIChE CAST (Computing and Systems Technology) Outstanding Young Researcher Award
Christopher V. Rao (2012)
AIChE 100 Engineers of the Modern Era
Charles F. Zukoski (2008)
AIChE CAST Directors’ Award
Christopher V. Rao (2008)
AIChE W. David Smith Graduate Publication Award
Christopher V. Rao (2007)
AIChE Alpha Chi Sigma Award
Charles F. Zukoski (2002)
AIChE Service to Society Award
William S. Hammack (2002)
AIChE Ernest Thiele Award
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1986)
AIChE Professional Progress Award
Richard C. Alkire (1985)
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1967)
AIChE Walker Award
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1964)
AIChE Colburn Award
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1957)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
ACS Langmuir Lectureship Award
Deborah E. Leckband (2021)
ACS PMSE Young Investigator Symposium Speaker
Charles Sing (2020)
ACS Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry Victor K. LaMer Award
Xiao Su (2020)
ACS Catalysis ACS Early Career Advisory Board
David W. Flaherty (2019)
ACS Polymer Materials Young Investigator Award
Damien Guironnet (2019)
ACS Division of Computers in Chemistry OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
Diwakar Shukla (2018)
ACS Marvin Johnson Award in Microbial and Biochemical Technology
Huimin Zhao (2018)
ACS Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in the Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry of Liquids
Kenneth S. Schweizer (2015)
John Wiley & Sons and ACS Division of Biochemical Technology, Elmer Gaden Award
Huimin Zhao (2014)
ACS, Petroleum Research Fund New Investigator Award
Simon Rogers (2018)
David Flaherty (2013)
ACS National Award in Colloid and Surface Chemistry
Steve Granick (2013)
ACS Division of Biochemical Technology Young Investigator Award
Huimin Zhao (2008)
ACS James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public
William S. Hammack (2004)
ACS Ralph K. Iler Award, Chemistry of Colloidal Materials
Charles F. Zukoski (1997)
ACS E.V. Murphee Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
Richard C. Alkire (1991)
ECS Energy Technology Division Research Award
Paul J. A. Kenis (2020)
ECS Fellow
Richard C. Alkire (1992)
ECS Vittorio de Nora Award
Richard C. Alkire (2005)
ECS Edward Goodrich Acheson Medal
Richard C. Alkire (1996)
ECS Carl Wagner Memorial Award
Richard C. Alkire (1985)
American Physical Society (APS)
APS Polymer Physics Prize
Steve Granick (2009)
Kenneth S. Schweizer (2008)
APS Dillon Medal in Polymer Physics
Kenneth S. Schweizer (1991)
Society of Rheology, Arthur B. Metzner Early Career Award
Charles M. Schroeder (2012)
Society of Rheology, Publication Award
Charles F. Zukoski (1996)
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
American Society for Engineering Education, The President’s Award
William S. Hammack (2003)
American Society for Engineering Education, Senior Research Award
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1979)
American Society for Engineering Education, Curtis McGraw Award
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1963)
International Society of Electrochemistry, ISE-Elsevier Prize for Green Electrochemistry
Xiao Su (2021)
Journal of Physical Chemistry and PHYS Division Lectureship Award
Diwakar Shukla (2021)
Society For Biomaterials (SFB), Clemson Award for Basic Research
Brendan A. Harley (2021)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Ralph Coats Roe Medal
William S. Hammack (2020)
Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Charles Thom Award
Huimin Zhao (2016)
American Vacuum Society, Prairie Chapter, Early Career Award
Ying Diao (2019)
David W. Flaherty (2018)
Mary L. Kraft (2015)
Biomedical Engineering Society, CMB Meeting Rising Star
Brendan A. Harley (2015)
American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Walter A. Shaw Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research
Mary L. Kraft (2014)
Society For Biomaterials, Young Investigator Award
Brendan A. Harley (2014)
American Cancer Society of Illinois, President’s Award for Research
Brendan A. Harley (2011)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Edwin F. Church Medal
William S. Hammack (2002)
National Association of Science Writers, Science in Society Award
William S. Hammack (2002)
Eastman Foundation Distinguished Lecturer in Catalysis
David W. Flaherty (2021)
National Science Board, Public Service Award
William S. Hammack (2021)
Scialog Collaborative Innovation Awards
Xiao Su (2020)
NASA Early Career Faculty Award
Ying Diao (2020)
Herbert Hoover Medal
William S. Hammack (2020)
Engineering Conferences International Enzyme Engineering Award
Humin Zhao (2019)
Carl Sagan Award for the Public Appreciation of Science
William S. Hammack (2019)
Department of Energy, Early Career Award
David W. Flaherty (2019)
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research
Diwakar Shukla (2017)
3M Non-tenured/Young Faculty Award
Ying Diao (2018)
Paul J. A. Kenis (2001-2005)
Forbes “30 Under 30” Science
Charles E. Sing (2015)
Paris-Sciences Medal, City of Paris
Steve Granick (2014, 2002)
IChemE North America, Young Chemical Engineer of the Year
Andrew L. Ferguson (2013)
Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Teacher/Scholar Award
Charles M. Schroeder (2013)
William S. Hammack (1993)
Guggenheim Foundation, Fellowship
Huimin Zhao (2012)
Korean Institute for Chemical Engineers, President Young Investigator Award
Hyunjoon Kong (2011)
David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Packard Fellowship
Charles M. Schroeder (2011)
Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Career Award at the Scientific Interface
Mary L. Kraft (2007-2011)
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, Innovation in Biotechnology Award
Diwakar Shukla (2011)
Science Online, First Prize (Video)
William S. Hammack (2011)
College of Engineering, Villanova University, J. Stanley Morehouse Memorial Award
Thomas J. Hanratty* (2009)
Genome Technology, Tomorrow’s PIs
Charles M. Schroeder (2008)
American Heart Association, Scientist Development Grant
Hyunjoon Kong (2008)
Chinese National Science Foundation,
Outstanding Overseas Young Chinese Scholars Award
Huimin Zhao (2007)
DuPont Young Investigator Award
Huimin Zhao (2005)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Award for Distinguished Literary Contributions Furthering the Public Understanding of the Profession
William S. Hammack (2004)
American Institute of Physics, Science Writing Award in Broadcast Media
William S. Hammack (2004)
National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Silver Reel for National News & Commentary
William S. Hammack (2003)
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Lifetime National Associate for extraordinary contributions
Richard C. Alkire (2002)
Dow Chemical Company, Special Recognition Award
Huimin Zhao (1999, 2000)
Department of Energy, Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in Materials Chemistry
Kenneth S. Schweizer (1996)
Institution of Chemical Engineers, Moulton Medal
Charles F. Zukoski (1996)
Semiconductor Research Corporation, Inventor Recognition Award
Edmund G. Seebauer (1995)
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Fellowship
Diwakar Shukla (2019)
Ying Diao (2018)
Edmund G. Seebauer (1994)
R&D Magazine, R&D 100 Award for Technologically Significant Innovation
Kenneth S. Schweizer (1992)
Sandia National Laboratories, Award for Excellence
Kenneth S. Schweizer (1990)
National Association of Corrosion Engineers, Technical Achievement Award
Richard C. Alkire (1990)
Lafayette College, George Washington Kidd Outstanding Alumnus Award
Richard C. Alkire (1988)
DuPont Young Faculty Award
Edmund G. Seebauer (1988)
University of Illinois
Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Brendan Harley (2017-2018)
List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent
David W. Flaherty
William S. Hammack
Brendan A. Harley
Jonathan J.L. Higdon
Paul J.A. Kenis
Hyun Joon Kong
Mary L. Kraft
Christopher V. Rao
Charles M. Schroeder
University Scholars
Paul J.A. Kenis (2011)
Huimin Zhao (2007)
Deborah E. Leckband (2001)
Steve Granick (1997)
Charles F. Zukoski (1994)
Thomas Hanratty* (1986)
Center for Advanced Study
Damien S. Guironnet (Fellow, 2021-2022)
Brendan A. Harley (Fellow, 2015-2016)
Charles M. Schroeder (Beckman Fellow, 2014)
Hyun Joon Kong (Fellow, 2012-2013)
Paul J. A. Kenis (Beckman Fellow, 2007-2008)
Steve Granick (Associate, 2006)
Huimin Zhao (Beckman Fellow, 2005-2006)
Edmund G. Seebauer (Beckman Associate (2004-2005)
Deborah Leckband (Fellow, 1999)
University of Illinois Campus Distinguished Promotion Award
Ying Diao (2021)
Brendan A. Harley (2018, 2015)
Hyunjoon Kong (2016)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Branding Leadership Award
William S. Hammack (2011)
Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement
Jerrod A. Henderson (2015)
The Grainger College of Engineering
Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence
Brendan Harley (2014)
Kenneth S. Schweizer (2002)
Charles F. Zukoski (1992)
Academy of Excellence in Engineering Education
Damien Guironnet (Collins Scholar, 2014-2015)
Diwakar Shukla (Collins Scholar, 2014-2015)
Charles Sing (Collins Scholar, 2014-2015)
Paul J. A. Kenis (Collins Scholar, 2001)
Huimin Zhao (Collins Scholar, 2001)
Engineering Council Excellence in Advising Award
David W. Flaherty
Kenneth S. Schweizer
Steve Granick
Brendan A. Harley
Jonathan J.L. Higdon
Paul J. A. Kenis
Mary L. Kraft
Charles M. Schroeder
Diwakar Shukla
Edmund G. Seebauer
William S. Hammack
Troy Vogel
Huimin Zhao
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research (formerly the Xerox Award for Faculty Research)
Diwakar Shukla (2020)
Ying Diao (2019)
David W. Flaherty (2018)
Brendan Harley (2018)
Hyun Joon Kong (2016)
Christopher V. Rao (2014)
Charles M. Schroeder (2013)
Hyun Joon Kong (2012)
Paul J. A. Kenis ( 2006)
Huimin Zhao (2005)
Deborah E. Leckband (1998)
Steve Granick (1993)
Tau Beta Pi Daniel C. Drucker Eminent Faculty Award
Kenneth S. Schweizer (2008)
Founder Chair of Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering
Steve Granick (1999-2014)
Donald Burnett Teaching Award, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Kenneth S. Schweizer (1997)
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Brendan Harley (2017-2018)
Prokasy Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Jonathan J. L. Higdon (1988)
Excellence in Teaching Award
Hyunjoon Kong (2020-2021)
Simon Rogers (2019-2020)
Diwakar Shukla (2018-2019)
Charles Sing (2017-2018)
Ying Diao (2016-2017)
Damien Guironnet (2015-2016)
David W. Flaherty (2014-2015)
Mary L. Kraft (2014-2015)
Troy J. Vogel (2014-2015)
Christopher V. Rao (2008)
Paul J. A. Kenis (2006)
William S. Hammack (2005, 2001)
Huimin Zhao (2004)
Edmund G. Seebauer (1996)
Jonathan J.L. Higdon (1984, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)
Richard C. Alkire (1982, 1988)
Named Chairs and Professorships
Richard C. Alkire Professor/Chair in Chemical Engineering
Hong Yang, Richard C. Alkire Professor (2015–2018)
Hong Yang, Richard C. Alkire Chair (2018–Present)
William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor
Baron G. Peters (2020–Present)
William S. Hammack (2020–Present)
Paul J.A. Kenis (2013–2018)
Charles F. Zukoski (2000–2011)
Dennis and Cathy Houston Professor
Jonathan J. L. Higdon (2013–Present)
Steven L. Miller Chair in Chemical Engineering
Huimin Zhao (2016–Present)
Elio Eliakim Tarika Chair
Paul J.A. Kenis (2018–Present)
Charles F. Zukoski (2011–2012)
Elio Eliakim Tarika Chair Emeritus
Charles F. Zukoski (2012–Present)
James W. Westwater Professor
Edmund G. Seebauer (2006–Present)
Deborah E. Leckband (2004-2006)
Anthony McHugh (2000-2003)
K. Dane Wittrup (1998-1999)
Thomas J. Hanratty* (1986-1998)
G. Ronald and Margaret H. Morris Professor
Kenneth S. Schweizer (2001–Present)
Charles J. and Dorothy G. Prizer Chair Emeritus
Richard C. Alkire
Reid T. Milner Professor
Deborah E. Leckband (2006–Present)
Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar
Diwakar Shukla (2021-2022)
Ying Diao (2020-2021)
I.C. Gunsalus Scholar
Ying Diao (2021-2022)
Brendan A. Harley (2015-2016)
Ray and Beverly Mentzer Faculty Scholar
Charles M. Schroeder (2015–2017)
Donald and Dolores Morris Faculty Scholar
William S. Hammack (2014–2016)
Donald and Dolores Morris Professorial Scholar
William S. Hammack (2018–)
Centennial Scholar
Hyunjoon Kong (2013-2016)
Robert W. Schaefer Scholar
Brendan A. Harley (2016-2019)
Mary L. Kraft (2016-2019)
Christopher V. Rao (2012-2017)
Helen Corley Petit Scholar
Charles Sing (2020-2021)
Christopher V. Rao (2011-2012)
Paul J. A. Kenis (2007-2008)
Huimin Zhao (2006-2007)
Deborah E. Leckband (1999-2000)
Dow Chemical Faculty Scholar
David W. Flaherty (2012-2017)
Ying Diao (2015-2019)
Asterisk(*) indicates that the individual is deceased.