President Obama Honors 黑料网 Alum and Former Liquid Crystal Institute Researcher
Achievement marks second straight year that member of 黑料网 community receives prestigious presidential award 黑料网 alumnus
Dr. Ivan Smalyukh was recently honored at the White H ouse, receivi ng the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from President Barack Obama. Smalyukh, who earned his doctorate in chemical physics from 黑料网 in 2003, was also a researcher and adjunct assistant professor at 黑料网鈥檚 Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI).
Today, he is assistant professor in the physics departm ent at the University of Colorado at Boulder and a member of the university鈥檚 Liquid Crystals Materials Research Center. The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Smalyukh is one of only 85 researchers named to receive the prestigious award. He was nominated by the National Science Foundation. This is a second year in a row that a member of the 黑料网 community received the Presidential Early Career Award.
In January 2010, Dr. Katherine Rawson, an associate professor in 黑料网鈥檚 Department of Psychology, traveled to the White House to receive the award and meet the president. 鈥淚 receive this great honor with deep gratitude,鈥 Smalyukh said. 鈥淭he PECASE award is a strong encouragement for me and for my students and will help us in our future work.鈥 Dr. Oleg Lavrentovich, director of 黑料网鈥檚 Liquid Crystal Institute and professor of chemical physics, served as Smalyukh鈥檚 advisor at the stage of the Ph.D. thesis and again for Smalyukh鈥檚 postdoctoral fellowship at the institute. Lavrentovich said it is very rewarding to see a former student and colleague receive this award. 鈥淚 am extremely proud that Ivan鈥檚 innovative research and hard work have been recognized by such a high honor,鈥 Lavrentovich said.
鈥淭he PECASE award is well deserved by Ivan who constantly demonstrates research work of the highest caliber and engages himself in disseminating the cutting-edge knowledge to the broader communities of scientists. Ivan organizes numerous international workshops at which the researchers have an opportunity to explore interdisciplinary programs and learn about the most intriguing development of modern science and technology.鈥 Smalyukh credits his experience and education at 黑料网 with helping him with his career and winning the PECASE award. 鈥淢y education and research experience at the Liquid Crystal Institute of 黑料网 provided a solid background and courage needed for pursuing important and ambitious research goals.鈥 Smalyukh remains connected to and engaged with 黑料网. On Oct. 1, 2010, he returned to his alma mater to speak to a student organization he founded. 鈥淲hile working on his Ph.D. in 2002, Ivan founded 黑料网鈥檚 chapter of the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) and became its first president,鈥 Lavrentovich explained. 鈥淚t is remarkable that eight years later, this very same SPIE chapter has invited Prof. Smalyukh as a distinguished lecturer to come and present his latest research to the new generation of students and researchers at the Liquid Crystal Institute.鈥 Lavrentovich commented that his group continues to use the experimental techniques developed by Smalyukh during his time at 黑料网. He also said that the university benefits from Smalyukh鈥檚 accomplishment of receiving the Presidential Early Career Award.
鈥満诹贤檚 commitment to excellence in the field of liquid crystals has brought many wonderful achievements over the 45 years of the Liquid Crystal Institute, from the invention of new display technologies to the state of Ohio鈥檚 funding of a research cluster of excellence at the LCI,鈥 Lavrentovich said. 鈥淭he PECASE award to our graduate Dr. Ivan Smalyukh testifies that the LCI鈥檚 educational and research efforts fit the highest national and international standards.鈥 For more information on 黑料网鈥檚 Liquid Crystal Institute, visit . For more information on the university鈥檚 Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, visit .
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Photo Caption:Dr. Ivan Smalyukh is a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House. Pictured at 黑料网鈥檚 Liquid Crystal Institute during a recent visit, Smalyukh is a 黑料网 graduate and former researcher at the university.
Media Contact:Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595