A chemistry professor whose research has ramifications for energy and fuel generation and who leads outreach with undergraduate students was selected today for a prestigious early career award from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement.
Michael J. Rose, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, has been named one of 24 Cottrell Scholars nationwide.
The Research Corporation for Science Advancement names Cottrell Scholars with the aim of advancing fundamental research in the physical sciences. It has supported the work of 40 scientists who then went on to become Nobel Laureates. The Cottrell Scholar award is given to early career scientists and comes with a $100,000 research grant, as well as an invitation to a multidisciplinary conference aimed at fostering leaders in the academic community.
Michael J. Rose was named a 2016 Cottrell Scholar for both his work in inorganic chemistry and for his outreach work. Rose's research projects include investigating the use of common elements, such as iron, for reactions typically only possible with precious elements such as platinum. These common elements, called "first row" metals because of their position on the first row of metals on the periodic table, usually do not serve as effective catalysts and reactants in the same way that many precious metals do. However, Rose has come up with innovative ways to overcome these limitations by binding the first row metal to other compounds which allow them to simulate some of the properties of the precious metals.
The award also recognizes Rose's outreach work, which includes shepherding a group of undergraduates to do outreach to middle and high school students. Rose developed the H2fromH2O project for middle and high school chemistry classrooms, which engages students in the process of creating renewable fuel from water.
Rose has also been recognized as an excellent educator, being named one of the winners of the 2015 College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award.
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