Chemistry students win numerous awards

November 23, 2020

By Caroline Cole Department Communications

Lydia Hoffman

It was a busy year for awards, despite the constraints of a pandemic. In May, the Department of Chemistry celebrated students, faculty and staff with an online awards and graduation event called Celebrating Student Success. Because of generous donors, the department was able to give almost $500,000 in student support. See the winners of department and other awards below. The College of Letters and Science also announced scholarship winners in 2020 and honor society Phi Beta Kappa announced new members. The Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) provides information about awards and funding for high-achieving students. The review teams look for creativity, community service, leadership, strength of character, and more, WiSH stated. Lydia Hoffman, the recipient of the 2020 Jane Goddard Scholarship award from L&S, is a rising senior studying chemistry and French. The scholarship supports exceptional juniors or seniors studying in the humanities field. “I am truly humbled and honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Jane Goddard Scholarship,” Hoffman said. “I am moved by the donor’s and UW–Madison’s support and commitment to my education reflected by this award. Knowing that I have the support and encouragement of the University behind me, I can persevere through this unprecedented time and finish strongly in my final year here at UW–Madison.” Hoffman plans to apply to graduate programs this fall, in hopes of teaching on the collegiate level. Matthew McGill is a junior majoring in chemistry, and he was awarded the Ralph B. Abrams Scholarship from L&S. This award is given to exceptional students in the College of Letters and Sciences (L&S). “Aside from the generous financial aid, the award carries more meaning to me,” McGill said. “It shows that the UW–Madison chemistry department believes in me as a student and fledgling scientist. In my time in the chemistry building, I have seen firsthand the care and dedication that the lecturers, advisors, graduate students, and support staff have for student success. The Herculean efforts that were put forth this past spring to finish the semester online are one of many examples of this dedication.” McGill was involved in research for a semester with the Buller lab with his mentor, Meghan Campbell. McGill’s lab work is centered around engineering enzymatic catalysts to make new amino acids. After college, he plans to go to graduate school so he can work in the field of medicinal chemistry, specifically in drug design and synthesis. Other winners include Chance Wilkinson-Johnson, who won the Leo and Jean Besozzi Scholarship Award, and Ira Manthey, who won the Wirth Scholars Award. The Leo and Jean Besozzi Scholarship is gifted to high-achieving seniors in L&S, and Wirth Scholars are high achieving first-generation college students with an intended major in L&S or women students in the biological or physical sciences field that are research-oriented. Nine chemistry students were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, one of the oldest and most prestigious honors societies in the country. Some of those students include Brendan Anderson, Sean Huth, Calvin Spolar, Morgan Gugger, Lydia Hoffman, Jacob O’Hearn and Kaining Mao. Approximately 150 of the top undergraduates at UW–Madison are selected to join Phi Beta Kappa each year. To be selected for participation, students must be among the top in their class, take a range of courses to demonstrate a diverse liberal arts course load, and take a college-level math, statistics or logic course. FACULTY & STAFF AWARDS

Bates, Desiree Outstanding Women of Color Award
Blackwell, Helen STAR Award for Cottrell Scholars
Brunold, Thomas 2019-20 WARF Kellett Mid-Career Award
Buller, Andrew GSFLC Mentorship Award NIH New Innovators Award
Casperson, Kurtis University Staff Excellence Award University Staff Recognition Award
Choi, Kyoung-Shin Vilas Faculty Mid-Career Investigator Award Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Award
Coon, Josh 2020 Kellett Mid-Career Award
Doolittle, Pam Dept. Academic Staff Excellence Award
Ediger, Mark 2019 Kavli Lecturer (APS March Meeting) 2019 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award 2019 Birnbaum Award (University of Illinois)
Fredrickson, Danny James W. Taylor Teaching Award 2020-20201 Vilas Associate Elected to Physical Sciences Divisional Committee
Garand, Etienne 2020-20201 Vilas Associate
Ge, Ying American Society for Mass Spectrometry Biemann Medal
Gellman, Sam Vilas Research Professorship Honorary Member, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Meienhofer Award, Boulder Peptide Society
Gockel, Sam GSFLC Mentorship Award
Mattei, Michael GSFLC Mentorship Award
Schueneman, Susan Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant
Stahl, Shannon 2019 WARF Innovation Award, finalist 2020 ACS Catalysis Lectureship
Stephens, Karen Pringle Award
Swords, Wesley GSFLC Mentorship Award
Weix, Dan ACS Cope Scholar Award ACS Green Chemistry Institute Pharm Roundtable Grant
Wickens, Zachary GSFLC Mentorship Award
Yethiraj, Arun GSFLC Mentorship Award
Yoon, Tehshik ACS Green Chemistry Institute Pharm Roundtable Grant
Zanni, Martin Elected to AAAS 2019 UPenn Chemistry Distinguished Alumni Award APS 2021 Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy & Dynamics
Zweifel, Erynn University Staff Recognition Award

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Acosta, Milton (Berry) Pei Wang Fellowship
Alektiar, Sara (Wickens) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Alperstein, Ariel Reddy Award in Physical Chemistry
Benware, Sarah (Pedersen) Pei Wang Fellowship
Bishop, Camille McCoy Memorial Scholarship National Research Council Postdoc Fellowship
Brown, Kyle (Ge) Hartl Excellence in Research Award – Analytical Three Minute Thesis Competition, 1st Runner Up
Bruns, David (Stahl) Goering Organic Chemistry Fellowship
Flores, Brandon (Fredrickson) Pei Wang Fellowship
Campbell, Meghan (Buller) 2019-20 TA Award
Candelaria, Froylan Omar Fernandez (Burstyn) Pei Wang Fellowship
Cendejas, Melissa (Hermans) Hay Fellowship
Cary, Brian (Gellman) Hartl Excellence in Research Award- Chemical Biology Morton Research Award, Graduate Mentor
Chen, Si-Jie (Stahl) Dickinson Fellowship in Organic Chemistry
Chmiel, Alyah (Wickens) Pei Wang Fellowship
Corbin, Joshua (Schomaker) PPG Summer Fellowship
Cribari, Mario (Martell) Three Minute Thesis Competition, 3rd
Czerwinski, Rachel (Goldsmith) NSF Graduate Fellowship 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Deglopper, Kimberly (Stowe) 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Delaney, Kellen (Li) Schrag Analytical Chemistry Outstanding Peer Award Berk Award for Excellence in Chemistry Research
Dorman, Matisha (McMahon) Chosen for Graduate School Student Advisory Board
Elmendorf, Laura (Brunold) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Evensen, Claire 2020 Rhodes Scholar
Fellows, Madison (McMahon) 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Foote, Alex (Goldsmith) Carlson Graduate Award
Garcia, Kevin (Weix) Goering Organic Chemistry Fellowship Selected to attend AbbVie Scholar Symposium
Genzink, Matt (Yoon) NSF Graduate Fellowship 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Girvin, Zeb (Gellman) Casey Excellence in Research Award-Organic Reaxys Ph.D. Prize, Finalist
Goes, Shannon (Stahl) PPG Summer Fellowship
Good, Gillian (Martell) Pei Wang Fellowship NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention
Greenhalgh, Elizabeth (Brunold) Best Poster, Midwest Enzymes Chemistry Conf.
Hassan, Mostafa (Sibert) 2020 Goldwater Scholar
Hautzinger, Matt (Jin) 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Higgins, Peyton (Buller) NSF Graduate Fellowship
Hutchinson, Rachel (Cavagnero) TEAM Science Training Grad Research Award
Ju, Minsoo (Schomaker) Dickinson Fellowship in Organic Chemistry
Kidd, Jesse (Yoon) Slifkin Award in Chemistry
Kim, Min Ji (Wickens) Pei Wang Fellowship
Kohn, Eric (Martell) Pei Wang Fellowship NSF Graduate Fellowship
Kreisel, Joshua (Martell) Pei Wang Fellowship
Kurgan, Kathleen (Gellman) Hirschmann-Rich Fellowship in Bio-Organic Chemistry
Kuborn, Thomas Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
Lampkin, Philip (Gellman) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Lee, Byung Joo (Wang) Goering Organic Chemistry Fellowship
Li, Miyang (Li) Hay Fellowship
Lim, Amber (Fredrickson) 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Linke, Vanessa (Coon) Hay Fellowship
Lipinski, Karli (Hoskins) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Liu, Lei (Gellman) Mirviss Mentorship Award in Chemistry
Longley, Victoria (Weix) PPG Summer Fellowship
Lumley, Margaret (Choi) Schrag Analytical Chemistry Outstanding Peer Award Hay Fellowship
Lutovsky, Grace (Yoon) 3M Science & Technology Fellowship NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Machhi, Jasmin (Cavagnero) Taylor Scholarship NSF REU Fellowship (Summer 2020)
Manson, Daniel (Blackwell) Dickinson Fellowship in Organic Chemistry
Masse, Meranda (Cavagnero) 2020 Straka Award Biophysical Society Travel Award Biophysical Society Research Poster Presentation Award
Mattock, Dominic (Wang) Pei Wang Fellowship
McCarty, Bethany (Tang) NSF Graduate Fellowship
Mecha, Miranda (Cavagnero) Doban Mentorship Award
Merenini, Princess (Choi) Pei Wang Fellowship
Melby, Jake (Ge) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Mihalyi-Koch, Willa (Jin) Pei Wang Fellowship
Mill, Jericha (Li) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention 2019-20 TA Award
Moreno, David (Ge) Pei Wang Fellowship
Morris, Rylie (Gellman) Pei Wang Fellowship NSF Graduate Fellowship
Morrow, Darien Hartl Excellence in Research Award-Physical
Mustafi, Mainak WISL Award for Communicating Ph.D. Research to the Public
Nicastri, Kate (Schomaker) Goering Organic Chemistry Fellowship Slifkin Award in Chemistry Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
Nieszala, Megan (Landis) NSF Graduate Fellowship
Nutting, Jordan (Stahl) 2020 AAAS Mass Media Fellowship
Orr, Vanessa (McMahon) Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
Owen, Andrew (McMahon) Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
Pimentel, Edward (Martell) Slifkin Award in Chemistry
Pattaburaman, Dinesh WISL Award for Communicating Ph.D. Research to the Public
Podorova, Yulia (Zanni) Pei Wang Fellowship
Reed, Nicholas (Yoon) Goering Organic Chemistry Fellowship PPG Mentoring Award
Ross, Dominic (Jin) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Roy, Michael (Berry) Daniels Ethical Leadership Award Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
Salazar, Chase (Stahl) Goering Organic Chemistry Fellowship
Santalucia, Daniel J. (Berry) Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
Schaffer, Leah (Smith) Parr Memorial Award
Smith, Houston (McMahon) 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Smith, Jamorious (Buller) Pei Wang Fellowship
Smith, Mackinsey (Goldsmith) Pei Wang Fellowship NSF Graduate Fellowship
Spitha, Natalia (Wright) 2019-20 Teaching Assistant Award
Tabang, Dylan (Li) NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention
Targos, Karina (Wickens) Pei Wang Fellowship
Thomas, AnnaBeth Pei Wang Fellowship
Trenerry, Michael J. (Berry) Outstanding Chemistry Teaching Assistant Award
Tritt, Rachel (Boydston) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Trujillo, Anji (Coon) Hirschmann-Rich Fellowship in Bio-Organic Chemistry
Tucholski, Trisha Parr Memorial Award
Vasilopoulos, Aris (Stahl) Dickinson Fellowship in Organic Chemistry
Vine, Logan (Schomaker) Goering Organic Chemistry Fellowship
Vollbrecht, Cecilia (Goldsmith) QISE-Net award
Warden, Hillary Mitchell (Fredrickson) Casey Excellence in Research Award-Inorganic
Walsh, Shannon WISL Award for Communicating Ph.D. Research to the Public
Weaver, Brian (Burstyn) Best Poster, Midwest Enzymes Chemistry Conf.
Wegner, Kyle WISL Award for Communicating Ph.D. Research to the Public
West, Korbin (Blackwell) Hirschmann-Rich Fellowship in Bio-Organic Chemistry Mirviss Mentorship Award in Chemistry
Wheaton, Amelia (Berry) NSF Graduate Fellowship, Honorable Mention
Yang, Hanming (Cavagnero) Bender Memorial Award Presented at the CANMRDG NMR Conference
Xing, Enran (Ediger) PPG Summer Fellowship
Zhang, Yongqian “Kelly” Hartl Excellence in Research Award-Materials

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Akhetova, Sofya (Boydston) Herscher Scholarship
Allen, Anna (Cavagnero) Herscher Scholarship Hilldale Research Award
Anderson, Brendan Student Support in Chemistry
Allen, Anna (Cavagnero) Herscher Scholarship Hilldale Research Award
Ausman, Samantha (Dumesic) Dept. Undergrad Research Poster Award
Bartels, Brenna Firminhac Chemistry Scholarship
Beyer, Peyton WI ACS Undergrad. Award for Excellence in Chemistry
Bieser, Michael (Ediger) WI ACS DUCK Exam Award
Carlson, Grace (Buller) Student Support in Chemistry Tong Scholarship in Chemistry Dept. Undergrad. Research Poster Award
Chen, Chelsea (Cavagnero) UW–Madison Biochemistry Summer Research Awards
Coulthurst, Josette Saco Polymer Scholarship
England, Kevin (Cavagnero) Chemistry Department Scholarship Larsen Scholarship Hilldale Research Award Dept. Undergrad. Research Poster Award ASBMB Undergraduate Research Conference, Poster Award
Erpelding, Peter (Sheibani) Don Brouse Memorial Scholarship Hilldale Research Award
Flesch, Kaylin (Stahl) WI ACS Undergrad. Award for Excellence in Chemistry
Geng, Han (Berry) Week Scholarship
Gugger, Morgan (Ge) Maeck Scholarship in Chemistry Telander Undergrad Research Award Ackerman Scholarship Hilldale Research Award
Gut, Mary Alpha Chi Sigma Scholarship
Harker, Cade Student Support in Chemistry Ziarnik Scholarship
Harrison, Brandon Krauskopf Memorial Scholarship
Hoffman, Lydia Jane Goddard Scholarship
Hunjadi, Rachel ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergrad Scholarship
Ishikuri, Takahiro (Record) Ackerman Scholarship Hilldale Research Award
Juntunen, Nicholas (Brunold) Ackerman Scholarship Noland Research Fellowship Tong Scholarship in Chemistry Morton Research Award, Undergrad Mentee Dept. Undergrad Research Poster, Honorable Mention
Kaiser, Bridget (Rayment) Hilldale Research Award
Kasat, Aadhishre (Buller) Fischer Scholarship Dept. Undergrad. Research Poster Award
Kleman, Adam (Gellman) PPG Mentoring Award
Kressuk, Rebecca Dorsey Memorial Scholarship Tong Scholarship in Chemistry
Kyrvasilis, Andreas (Ge) Hilldale Research Award
Leisten, Eric (Tang) Hilldale Research Award
Lin, Yueai (Fredrickson) McLean Bender Scholarship Week Scholarship Hilldale Research Award
Ma, Stella (Blackwell) Kreger Herscher Scholarship Duthey Reiner Scholarship 2020 Goldwater Scholar
Machhi, Jasmine (Cavagnero) Taylor Scholarship NSF REU Fellowship
Mandepally, Akshith (Blackwell) Taylor Scholarship
Manthey, Ira Wirth Scholars Award
McCann, Erin (Yu) Dept. Undergrad Research Poster Award
McGill, Matthew Student Support in Chemistry Ralph B. Abrams Scholarship
Mehta. Moulik Moore Award for Excellence-109
Minic, Marina (Bertram) Maeck Scholarship in Chemistry
Nguyen Kevin (Gellman) Hilldale Research Award
Ni, Chi-Min (Nathanson) Dempsky Chemistry Scholarship
Nguyen, Kevin Dinh (Gellman) Morton Research Award, Undergrad. Mentee
Onnuch, Paul Ackerman Scholarship Toy Scholarship
Palatnik, Benjamin Ackerman Scholarship
Palof, George Krauskopf Memorial Award
Pederson, Corey Student Support in Chemistry
Ragan, Abbey (Instructional Staff) Kreger Herscher Scholarship
Rattanakornphan, Dan Moore Award for Excellence-109
Raskopf, William (Schomaker) Ackerman Scholarship Firminhac Chemistry Scholarship
Rivard, Matthew Dempsky Chemistry Scholarship
Rupanya, Anuchit Chemistry Department Scholarship Panek Memorial Scholarship
Sill, Alex (Demonstration Lab) Plank & Putze Memorial Scholarship
Singh, Aditya (Yethiraj) WI ACS Undergrad. Award for Excellence in Chemistry ACS P. Chem Undergrad. Award for Graduating Senior
Snider, Dylan (Nathanson) Dempsky Chemistry Scholarship Hilldale Research Award
Sun, Yuqian Moore Award for Excellence-109
Susilo, Nicholas Krauskopf Memorial Award
Tankel, Nataniel WI ACS DUCK Exam Award
Tigges-Green, Isabelle (Zanni) WI ACS Ugrad Award for Excellence in Chemistry NSF Graduate Fellowship
Unger, Maxwell Boomer Student Support Fund
Voigt, William Krauskopf Memorial Award
Wei, Wanting (Cavagnero) UW–Madison Biochemistry Summer Research Awards
Weidemann, Amelia Krauskopf Memorial Award
Wilkinson-Johnson, Chance Paulick Undergrad Scholarship Saco Polymers Scholarship Besozzi Scholarship
Winter, Casey (Wickens) Student Support in Chemistry
Witzig, Daniel Moore Award for Excellence-108
Xistris, Lily Krauskopf Memorial Award
Ye, Xinyu (Gellman) Dept. Undergrad Research Poster Award, Honorable Mention