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FACSS Innovation awardS
The FACSS Innovation Awards were founded in 2011 as part of the 2011 FACSS meeting at the suggestion of Prof. Pavel Matousek (Program Chair) and approved by the FACSS Governing Board.
These awards are given for the most innovative and outstanding new research advancements debuted orally at the SciX Conference. All program areas are included. Only research findings presented for the first time in the public domain qualify for entry. Work based on submitted papers not yet published electronically or in print at the time of abstract submission also qualifies. All attendees are eligible for the award irrespective of educational level or professional vocation.
During abstract submission, the presenting author opts in to be considered for the award and submits a short supporting statement. View complete application instructions to ensure eligibility before applying. Up to four finalists are selected to present to a panel of judges at a special plenary session on Thursday afternoon at the SciX conference. Presenters are notified in advance of the conference and each presenting author finalist will receive complimentary registration to SciX. The winner is selected by the judging panel based on the quality of the work presented, responses provided to the judges' questions after the plenary presentation, and responses to audience questions. The winner is announced at the closing plenary session on Friday morning.
Each award includes:
- A total cash prize of $1500 and a plaque to the presenting author
- A plaque for each co-author
- Publicity for the awardees and their work
2024 FINALISTS
Robert V. Chimenti
"Entropically Induced Negative Absolute Temperature During Epoxy-Amine Polymerization"
Robert V. Chimenti is an Assistant Professor and the Photonics Coordinator with the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Institute (AMMI) at Rowan University. He earned a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Rowan University and an MS in Electro-Optics from the University of Dayton. Before transitioning to academia in 2019, Prof. Chimenti had a successful career in the laser and spectroscopy industry, where he commercialized many product lines that are still on the market today. His current research is primarily centered around novel applications of Raman spectroscopy with a particular focus on polymer physics and thermal/structural kinetics. He is also heavily involved in the development of 3D printing methodologies for polymeric GRIN optics as well as novel SERS and OECT based sensing platforms. Prof. Chimenti spearheaded the launch of Rowan’s Photonics Master’s degree program, and as a community college graduate, is a passionate champion of alternate pathways for non-traditional students.
Will Jones
"Calibration by Proxy"
Willis (Will) Jones earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Wake Forest University in 2014, and discovered his passion for research as an undergraduate. He then moved to the University of Florida, studying the shot-to-shot noise and limitations of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) under the guidance of Nico Omenetto. Will completed his Ph.D. in 2019, then did postdoctoral research with Alicia Fessler at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) for specific applications of Raman spectroscopy, LIBS, and mass spectrometry. He began his independent career as an Assistant Professor at the University of North Florida in the fall of 2022. Will’s research interests lie at the intersection of method development and instrument design for elemental analysis, aiming to improve trace analyte determinations in complex samples. His research group develops novel, matrix matched calibration methods that offer unmatched simplicity and speed, maximizing sample throughput without sacrificing analytical accuracy or precision.
Xiaoji Xu
"Development of Atomic Force Microscopy-Based Two-dimensional Infrared Nano-spectroscopy"
Dr. Xiaoji Xu is currently an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Prior to independent research career, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto with Dr. Gilbert C. Walker. He received his B.S. from Peking University in 2004, and Ph.D. from The University of British Columbia in 2009 under the supervision of Dr. John W. Hepburn. His current research focuses are on nanoscale chemical imaging, laser spectroscopy, and innovations in scanning probe microscopy for chemical and material measurement. He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and received several granted patents on AFM-based infrared microscopy. He was selected as a Beckman Young Investigator in 2018 and Sloan Research Fellow in 2020. He is also a recipient of the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award in 2021.
Yi You
“Advanced Repetition-Rate Modulation and Computational Strategies for Background-Free LIBS Using Non-Gated Spectrometers"
Dr. Yi You is a dedicated scientist currently serving as a Staff Scientist at the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). Hailing from Shandong, China, Dr. You has pursued a path that brings together chemistry, engineering, physics, and computer science. His academic journey includes attaining a Ph.D. in Physical/Analytical Chemistry from Kent State University in the United States and a “Diplom Engineer” degree from Luebeck University of Applied Sciences in Germany. These experiences have provided him with a broad skill set, which he applies to innovating scientific instruments. Dr. You's work reflects the integration of computational techniques and engineering principles. He is skilled in programming and automation, with expertise in areas such as classical optics, optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and acoustics. In addition to his hands-on work, Dr. You is committed to contributing to the scientific community, with several publications in scientific journals. His approach to his work is characterized by humility and a continuous desire to learn, making him a respected colleague in his field. Dr. You remains focused on advancing scientific instrumentation, inspired by the belief that there is always more to discover and improve.
Past Recipients
2023 INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
Acoustic Ion Manipulation: A Novel Approach to Enhance Ion-based Spectroscopies
Jacob T. Shelley
2022 INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
Opto-Lipidomics of Tissues;
Mads S. Bergholt
2021 INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
EASI: A New Paradigm for Mass Spectral Identifications;
Glen P. Jackson
2019 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS:
Chemical Approaches to Improve Nanopore Single-Molecule Sensing;
Jason R. Dwyer, James Hagan; University of Rhode Island
2018 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS:
Electrically Triggered Water-in-Oil Droplets for Serial Femtosecond Crystallography)
Alexandra Ros (Arizona State University);
Interband Cascade Laser Frequency Combs: A New Tool for Miniaturization
Benedikt Schwarz (Technische Universität Wien);
2017 INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
Optical Reflection and Waveguiding of Sound in Free Space
Daniel Kazal1, Ellen Holthoff2, Brian Cullum1; 1University of Maryland, Baltimore County,
2Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
2016 INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
An Inexpensive Medical Device for Barrett’s Esophagus Screening; Rohith Reddy1, 2,
Michalina Gora1,2, Jing Dong1, 2, Matthew Beatty, 2, Wolfgang Trasischker1, 2, Kanwarpal Singh1,2,
Amna Soomro, 2, Catriona Grant, 2, Mireille Rosenberg, 2, Guillermo Tearney1, 2; 1Harvard Medical School; 2Massachusetts General Hospital
Interview with Rohith Reddy by Spectroscopy
2015 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS:
Technology
SERS in Live 3D Cell Cultures as a New Tool for Drug Discovery; Colin Campbell1, Lauren Jamieson1, Pierre Bagnaninchi1, David Harrison2 Victoria Camus;1University of Edinburgh; 2University of St Andrews
2014 INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
Sub-PPM Detection Limits in Powder X-Ray Diffraction Guided by Second Harmonic Generation Imaging; Garth Simpson, Purdue University
Interview with Garth Simpson by Spectroscopy Magazine
2013 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS:
Imaging Quantum Effects in Biological Systems; Gregory S. Engel, The University of Chicago
Interview with Gregory Engel by Spectroscopy Magazine
Portable Spectrometry: Making Good Use of CMOS Detectors; Alexander Scheeline1, Thu Anh Bui1,2; 1SpectroClick, Inc., 2Vietnam National University Hanoi Interview with Alexander Scheeline by Spectroscopy Magazine
2012 INNOVATION AWARD WINNER:
Rohit Bhargava, University of Illinois, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
Advancing Infrared Microscopy Instrumentation by Theory and Computation; Rohit Bhargava, P. Scott Carney, Rohith Reddy, Kevin Yeh, Thomas van Dijk, Matthew Gelber, Matthew V. Schulmerich; University of Illinois, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
2011 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS
Ultrasound Enhanced ATR mid-IR Fibre Optic Probe for Spectroscopy of Particles in Suspensions; Cosima Koch, Markus Brandstetter, Stefan Radel, Bernhard Lendl; Vienna University of Technology, Austria
Interview with Koch and Lendl
Large-Area Standoff Planetary Raman Measurements Using a Novel Spatial Heterodyne Fourier Transform Raman Spectrometer; S. Michael Angel1, Nathaniel R. Gomer1, Shiv K. Sharma2, J. Chance Carter3; 1University of South Carolina, 2University of Hawaii, 3Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Interview with Angel
Single Molecule Fluorescence Imaging Studies of Dynamic Processes in Reversed Phase Chromatographic Materials; Justin Cooper, Eric Peterson, Joel Harris, University of Utah
Interview with Cooper
Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry - New Dimension of LIBS ; Alexander Bol'shakov1, Richard Russo1,2, Xianglei Mao2, Dale Perry2, Osman Sorkhabi2, Chris McKay3; 1Applied Spectra, Inc., Fremont, CA, 2LBNL, Berkeley, CA, 3NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA