FACSS Student Award and Hirschfeld Scholars


FACSS is proud to support the development of the next generation of leaders in analytical science. Pre-doctoral students presenting at the conference are encouraged to submit applications for the FACSS Student Award and the Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award. Both awards recognize research excellence but highlight the different ways that this may be achieved.

The FACSS Student Award is given to the student who has furthered the state-of-the-art in their chosen field(s) and in so doing, advanced the understanding of important scientific or societal questions. The recipient will have a strong research record and be identifiable as an emerging leader in analytical chemistry.

The winner(s) of the Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award will best exemplify the extraordinary creativity of the award’s namesake, whose deep understanding of the chemistry and physics of measurement science allowed him to find new connections and applications that eluded most practitioners. The recipient(s) and their work will be seen as potentially defining the future practice of analytical chemistry.  To learn more about the remarkable contributions of Tomas B. Hirschfeld, click here.


Nominations

To be considered for either award, students must submit an abstract for oral presentation at SciX, then submit the following as a single PDF file: 

  • The application form 
  • Two letters of nomination, including one by the student’s mentor
  • A copy of the candidate’s résumé
  • A copy of the candidate's graduate transcript
  • Copies of reprints and/or preprints of research accomplished

Please submit all of the above in one combined PDF during abstract submission by the oral abstract deadline.

If you have any questions, please contact us at scix@scixconference.org.


FACSS Student Award Recipient 2023

Aleksandr Razumtcev

Aleksandr is a Ph.D. candidate in Professor Garth Simpson’s group at Purdue University, where he conducts research at the intersection of vibrational spectroscopy and nonlinear optics. Prior to his graduate studies, he obtained a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Saint-Petersburg State University, Russia. During his undergraduate studies, he focused on characterizing multilayered thermoelectric semiconductor nanofilms fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. After joining Purdue University, Aleksandr has been working on developing a novel method for mid-infrared photothermal microscopy. This method relies on detecting temperature-induced changes in fluorescence intensity. By leveraging the high sensitivity of fluorescence quantum yield to local temperature variations, this new approach enhances the signal-to-noise ratio in sub-diffraction fingerprint region imaging by two orders of magnitude compared to conventional optical photothermal microscopy.

Aleksandr's work in F-PTIR microscopy was recognized with the ALS Doctoral Fellowship awarded by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). This fellowship currently supports his research at LBNL, focusing on further advancements in F-PTIR. His ongoing research interests involve utilizing F-PTIR for sub-micron chemical-specific imaging of fluorescently-labeled brain tissue sections to study neurodegenerative diseases and exploring broadband imaging using synchrotron radiation as an infrared light source. In total, Aleksandr has authored nine research publications and received several awards, including an outstanding poster award at the "Vibrational Spectroscopy" Gordon Research Conference.


Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar RecipientS 2023


Dongkwan Lee

Dongkwan earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During his undergraduate years, he worked with Prof. Rohit Bhargava to build a mid-infrared absorption microscope. Deeply intrigued by spectroscopic imaging, he pursued his Ph.D. at California Institute of Technology under Prof. Lu Wei's guidance, building a stimulated Raman scattering microscope and a fluorescence-infrared (IR) hybrid microscope.

His current research interest is mainly focused on expanding the vibrational imaging toolbox that enables investigation of complex biological systems. Understanding many biological systems requires high sensitivity, specificity, and spatial resolution imaging capabilities that are often out of reach in existing vibrational imaging technologies. In his recent work, he developed a new bond-selective imaging technique that enhances the sensitivity of direct mid-IR absorption microscopy. Mid-IR absorption provides rich chemical information, but its cross-sections are limited to μM-mM range. By coupling fluorescence and IR absorption and using fluorescence as a readout, bioimaging with single-molecule sensitivity and vibrational contrast was achieved. He seeks to continue his work in developing powerful vibrational imaging technologies that can be widely used in biological studies.


Adam Rish 

Adam Rish is a current Ph.D. candidate in Pharmaceutics at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA) under the direction of Dr. Carl A. Anderson. In his Ph.D. work, Adam is focused on addressing limitations in calibration-free modeling approaches for spectroscopic process analytical technology (PAT) toward improving industrial and regulatory acceptance of these approaches. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at Grove City College (Grove City, PA) prior to beginning his doctorial studies in 2018.

The goal of his Ph.D. research has been enhancing the applicability of calibration-free modeling approaches to PAT deployment in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The majority of the work has focused on iterative optimization technology (IOT) algorithms and their current restrictions: limited model diagnostics and lack of prediction robustness. The strategies developed by Adam have been shared in multiple accepted and upcoming peer-reviewed publications. These research results have been presented and well received at several national conferences.

During his Ph.D. research, Adam has had the opportunity to collaborate and work for major pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer and Bristol-Meyer Squibb. These collaborations have resulted in several scientific publications in high impact, peer-reviewed journals. During his free time, Adam enjoys cooking, hiking, and gardening.


Past recipients


2022

FACSS Student Award

Alexis Weber, University at Albany, SUNY


Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Sayantan Mahapatra, University of Illinois

Anna Wójtowicz, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland


2021

FACSS Student Award

Vanessa Cupil-Garcia, Duke University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Nicolas Morato, Purdue University

Grant Myres, University of Utah


2020

Not awarded 


2019

FACSS Student Award

Ewelina Mistek, SUNY Albany

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Shachi Mittal, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Erika Portero, University of Maryland College Park


2018

FACSS Student Award

Edward D. Hoegg, Clemson University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Katie Spalding, University of Strathclyde


2017

FACSS Student Award

Nicholas Riley, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Aboualizadeh Ebrahim, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

Paidi Santosh, Johns Hopkins University


2016

FACSS Student Award

Mustafa Unal, Case Western Reserve University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Kyle Doty, SUNY Albany

Mario Saucedo-Espinosa,Rochester Institute of Technology


2015

FACSS Student Awards

Marie Richard-Lacroix, University of Montreal

Lynn X. Zhang, Clemson University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Stephanie DeJong, University of South Carolina

Patrik K. Johansson, University of Washington


2014

FACSS Student Award

James R. Hands, University of Central Lancashire

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Menglian Zhang, Ohio University

Andrew Schwartz, Indiana University


2013

FACSS Student Award

Larry Gibson, University of Notre Dame

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Gloria Sheynkman, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bai Nie, Michigan State University


2012

FACSS Student Award

Ali Khumaeni, University of Fukui, Japan

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Nathaniel Gomer, University of South Carolina

Rohith Reddy, University of Illinois


2011

FACSS Student Award

Yun Zhang, Ohio University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Olivier R. Bolduc, University of Montreal


2010

FACSS Student Award

Jacob Shelley, Indiana University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Ishan Barman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Anil Kumaar Kodali, University of Illinois


2009

FACSS Student Award

Yuze Sun, University of Missouri

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Matthew Lockett, University of Wisconsin


2008

FACSS Student Award

David Strasfeld, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Christopher R. Field, University of Illinois

Matthew Keller, Vanderbilt University


2007

FACSS Student Award

Sen Li, Purdue University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Matthew Schulmerich, University of Michigan

Junrong Zheng, Stanford University


2006

FACSS Student Award

Daniel B. Bassil, University of Missouri, Columbia

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Andrea Tao, University of California, Berkeley

Tim M. Brewer, Clemson University


2005

FACSS Student Award

Allen E. Haddrell, Simon Fraser University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Jean-Francois Masson, Arizona State University


2004

FACSS Student Award

Lawrence W. Dick, Jr., Duke University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Ryan J. Priore, University of South Carolina


2003

FACSS Student Award

Yongfen Chen, University of New Orleans

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Brandon T. Ruotolo, Texas A&M University


2002

FACSS Student Award

James H. Barnes IV, Indiana University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Christian Pellerin, University Laval


2001

FACSS Student Award

Heather Peters, Wake Forest University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Michael Doescher, University of South Carolina


2000

FACSS Student Award

Christopher D. Zangmeister, University of Arizona

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Dimitri Pappas, University of Florida


1999

FACSS Student Award

Renee JiJi, Arizona State University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Sara L. McIntosh, Duke University


1998

FACSS Student Award

John A. McLean, George Washington University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Award

Susan L. R. Barker, University of Michigan


1997

FACSS Student Award

Bryan C. Castle, University of Florida

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Darren Dunphy, University of Arizona

Radislav Potyrailo, Indiana University


1996

FACSS Student Award

Christine M. Ingersoll, State University of New York at Buffalo

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Paul Edmiston, University of Arizona

Steven R. Emory, Indiana University

Dana M. Spence, Michigan State University


1995

FACSS Student Award

David E. Cliffel, University of Texas at Austin

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Curtis D. Cleven, Purdue University

Robert J. Willicut, Louisiana State University

Jeremy M. Shaver, Duke University


1994

FACSS Student Award

Diana S. West, Wright State University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Jeanette K. Rice, State University of New York at Buffalo

W. Russell Everett, University of Arkansas


1993

FACSS Student Award

Michael Ruberto, Seton Hall University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Ray Bakhtiar, North Dakota State University

Sheryl Ann Tucker, University of North Texas


1992

FACSS Student Award

Evelyn Guizhen Su, University of Connecticut

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Vasilis Gregoriou, Duke University

Patrick A. Limbach, Ohio State University

Jeff Mazzeo, Northeastern University


1991

FACSS Student Award

Rebecca M. Dittmar, Duke University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Scott E. Van Bramer, University of Colorado

Marilyn O’Grady, Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Chris G. Gill, University of British Columbia


1990

FACSS Student Award

Richard L. Irwin, University of Connecticut

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Paul Shiundu, University of British Columbia


1989

FACSS Student Award

Patrick J. Treado, University of Michigan

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Renato Zenobi, Stanford University

Mingda Wang, Ohio State University


1988

FACSS Student Award

George Yefchak, Michigan State University

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

James T. Cronin, University of Delaware

Sue E. Zhu, Villanova University


1987

Tomas Hirschfeld Scholar Awards

Jonathan V. Sweedler, University of Arizona

Brad Tenge, University of Washington

Peter Wentzell, Michigan State University

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