2024 Lee Lecture and Awards Dinner Recognizes Graduate Excellence in Chemistry

On Thursday, May 9th, the UCI Department of Chemistry hosted the 2024 Lee Lecture and Awards Dinner. Joseph S. Francisco, President’s Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, gave the lecture on his research into the chemistry behind acid rain. The lecture was followed by an awards dinner, hosted by Professors Sarah Finkeldei and Maxx Arguilla, that recognized graduate student excellence in the chemistry department. 

The E.K.C. Lee Lecture and Dinner honors one of Chemistry’s founding faculty: Professor Edward Lee. Ed came to the U.S. for undergraduate studies at Kansas Wesleyan University and graduated as valedictorian in his class. He then joined Sherry Rowland’s Group at the University of Kansas where he completed his Ph.D. studies in just 3.5 years. He helped run the Rowland Group in Kansas while Sherry was here, setting up the new UCI Chemistry Department. Ed began at UCI as an Assistant Professor in 1965 and was promoted to full Professor in a total of just six years – a record of rapid promotion not yet exceeded on this campus. In addition to his exemplary scientific achievements in his too brief life, Ed was even more respected for his integrity, cooperation, and friendship. To honor Ed, the Department established the annual Lee Lecture and Dinner beginning in 1988.

Congratulations to the awardees: 

Catherine Seo

Chemistry Mentorship Award

Jose Uribe

Graduate Award for Departmental Service 

Amanda Abiad

Most Promising Future Faculty

James Griffin

Most Promising Future Faculty

Katherine Hopstock

Outstanding Contribution to the Chemistry Department - Honored by School of Physical Sciences

Emma Brass

Contributions to the Chemistry Department Teaching Program by a TA - 1st Year

Alexis Ravenscroft

Contributions to the Chemistry Department Teaching Program by a TA - 1st Year

Chelsea Jones

Contributions to the Chemistry Department Teaching Program by a TA – Continuing

Jordan Castro

Contributions to the Chemistry Department Teaching Program by a TA – Continuing

Praveen Prabhakar

Contributions to the Chemistry Department Teaching Program by a TA - upper-division student 

Sebastian Fernandez

Don L. Bunker Award                       

Megan Rocha

Graduate Student Award from the American Institute of Chemists         

Jose Uribe

Smitrovich Prize

Patrick McShea

Gebel Award

Madison Landi

Gebel Award

Kasey Edwards

Gebel Award

Austin Green

Wolfsberg Award in Theoretical Chemistry

Xintong Hou

Hal Moore Award

Katherine Hopstock

Joan Rowland Award

Elizabeth Diessner

Edward K.C. Lee Award