Rising Stars in Academic Chemistry

The Women’s Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society has announced the inaugural winners of its Rising Star Awards. The awards which will be given annually, beginning in 2012, will recognize exceptional achievement in chemistry by mid-career professionals.

The 10 winners will receive their awards at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego in late March. Of the 10 women who will be honored, four are currently affiliated primarily with an academic institution.

Annaliese K. Franz is an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of California at Davis. She has served on the UCal Davis faculty since 2007. Dr. Franz is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California at Irvine.

Sarah E. Reisman is an assistant professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. She is a graduate of Connecticut College and holds a Ph.D. from Yale University. She conducted postdoctoral studies at Harvard University,

Malika Jeffries-El is an assistant professor of chemistry at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on organic synthesis and polymer chemistry with an emphasis on macromolecular design and synthesis. Dr. Jeffries-El is a graduate of Wellesley College. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from George Washington University.

Christine M. Ingersoll is an associate professor of chemistry at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Ingersoll is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego. She holds a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her recent research includes automated analytical sample preparation techniques using robotic workstations and liquid handlers.