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By Cecilia Smith, Administrative Assistant, ACS Green Chemistry Institute, and David A. Laviska, Portfolio Manager for Green Chemistry and Sustainability in Education, ACS Green Chemistry Institute
Each year at the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute, we have the privilege of selecting promising students to receive a variety of awards for excellence in Green Chemistry research and/or studies. For 2025, we received a record number of applications and have chosen 14 winners across five different awards. Two of our awards are designated for support of chemists at advanced stages of training: the Heh-Won Chang Fellowship for graduate students and the Nina McClelland Memorial Award for post-doctoral scholars. You can read about the 2025 recipients below. All awardees will attend the 29th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. where they will present their research and receive their awards. Several of them will be speaking at the newly created Edward Brush Green Chemistry Awards Symposium on June 26. You can read full bios and research summaries for all winners here and be sure to read the separate article about the Breen, Hancock, and Ciba awardees.
The Nina McClelland Memorial Award sponsors the participation of postdoctoral scholars from U.S. and international institutions to attend the annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference and present their work in a talk or poster.
Christopher Koch
Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, USA
Why did you decide to focus your research on green/sustainable chemistry, and why is it important to you personally?
I became involved with sustainable chemistry research as it is widely applicable to a variety of issues our world faces. For example, developing biodegradable polymers, capturing CO2 out of the atmosphere, or improving fusion reactors embody the wide range of chemical applications that can be explored and developed to further improve the world we live in. Being able to utilize my own chemical skillset to contribute to ideas and processes to improve these issues was one of the main reasons why I decided to pursue a career in chemistry.
How has green chemistry or sustainability influenced your course of study and plans for your future?
Being involved in sustainable chemistry research requires you to be forward thinking. Laboratory scale reactions are good starting points, but additional work and progress are necessary to employ the technology in a practical setting. This requires you to think about problems in new and interesting ways in order to achieve the scientific and engineering metrics required to produce the desired outcomes, which provides a more engaging goal and target for doing chemical research. In the future I aim to continue to work in the national laboratory system to utilize and leverage my skillset to further sustainable chemistry and engineering processes.
Xin Liu
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
Why did you decide to focus your research on green/sustainable chemistry, and why is it important to you personally?
My commitment to green and sustainable chemistry arises from both scientific curiosity and a growing recognition of the environmental toll of conventional chemical manufacturing. During my Ph.D., I engaged in several industry-focused projects and witnessed how traditional processes, though efficient, are often dependent on finite resources and generate persistent pollutants. These experiences compelled me to pursue the development of catalytic and polymeric systems grounded in sustainability—reducing waste, enabling material circularity, and mitigating ecological impact. To me, sustainable chemistry is not only a scientific endeavor, but a personal imperative to advance innovation in harmony with planetary health.
How has green chemistry or sustainability influenced your course of study and plans for your future?
Green chemistry has profoundly shaped my research trajectory and long-term academic vision. It has directed my efforts toward environmentally responsible innovation, from the photocatalytic degradation of persistent pollutants to the design of recyclable polymers, and the upcycling of plastic waste into value-added materials. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to establishing a research career rooted in sustainable materials development. Looking ahead, I aspire to pursue a faculty position where I can lead a research group focused on sustainable materials. I hope to contribute to a more sustainable economy and cultivate the next generation of green chemists.
The Heh-Won Chang, Ph.D. Fellowship in Green Chemistry provides international recognition for outstanding graduate student contributions to advancing the goals of green chemistry. Winners receive $5,000 towards their expenses while conducting graduate research.
Swabiiha Buxoo
University of Mauritius, Mauritius
Why did you decide to focus your research on green/sustainable chemistry, and why is it important to you personally?
I believe that an end-product becomes truly eco-friendly when sustainability is the core theme at each stage of its life cycle, from raw material sourcing to the production phase to end-of-life. Alginate biopolymer is inherently a green end-product since it is derived from renewable feedstocks (seaweed). However, conventional alginate extraction uses inorganic chemicals, which negatively affect our environment. My focus on green chemistry stems from the desire to extend the sustainability aspect of alginate to the production phase, through the use of greener chemicals and technologies. On a personal level, I am driven by a strong passion for environmental protection, and coming from a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) where we need to protect our limited resources while promoting development, I view the application of green chemistry principles in my research as a meaningful way to seek that balance and contribute to a more sustainable future through responsible material development.
How has green chemistry or sustainability influenced your course of study and plans for your future?
My academic journey has been centered around sustainability, from my undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering to my current PhD research in the sustainable development of bioplastic from seaweed. This foundation has fundamentally shaped my awareness of the environmental impacts of industrial processes and has pushed me to think critically about the lifecycle of materials. Efficiency, waste valorization and reduction, the use of benign reagents and 100% biodegradable end-product development now remain at the forefront of my research. Looking ahead, I hope to achieve SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and production) by applying green chemistry principles to reduce the reliance on non-biodegradable synthetic plastic, both locally and worldwide. I also hope to contribute to the development of environmentally responsible materials and processes that can be scaled up for industrial use, ultimately supporting the transition to a more circular and sustainable economy.
Tom Nelis
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Why did you decide to focus your research on green/sustainable chemistry, and why is it important to you personally?
I chose to focus my research on green and sustainable chemistry because I believe we have a responsibility to help create a healthier, more livable world for future generations. The way we produce and use chemicals affects not only the environment, but also human health and global equity. What draws me to this field is its dynamic, rapidly evolving nature - it's full of innovation, creativity, and real-world impact. There are countless opportunities to develop cleaner processes, reduce waste, and rethink traditional approaches. I’m especially motivated by the belief that science should drive positive change, and green chemistry is a great example of how we can make progress while being responsible.
How has green chemistry or sustainability influenced your course of study and plans for your future?
Growing awareness of environmental challenges – from pollution to climate change – has inspired me to pursue a path that values both innovation and responsibility. I’ve progressed from studying basic sciences to focusing on catalysis, and ultimately to applying catalysis in the design of safer, more sustainable chemicals. Learning about green chemistry reshaped my perspective on science; it’s no longer just about discovery, but about meaningful impact. I want to apply these principles to bridge scientific research with real-world solutions, contributing to a circular economy and reducing our reliance on harmful chemicals. My goal is to be part of a new generation of scientists who don’t just develop new compounds but design them with the future in mind.