Journal of Polymer Science Innovation Award
The Journal of Polymer Science Innovation Award recognizes significant research innovation and achievement in a polymer scientist under 40.
2024 Award Winner
Grace Gu
University of California, Berkeley
Journal of Polymer Science and the Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) are delighted to present the 2025 Journal of Polymer Science Innovation Award to Professor Grace Gu.
Dr. Grace X. Gu is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. She received her BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Professor Markus Buehler. The research interests of the Gu Group focus on creating new materials with superior properties for mechanical, biological, and aerospace applications using multiphysics modeling and machine learning, as well as developing intelligent polymer additive manufacturing processes to realize complex material designs. Currently, her group is working on in-situ monitoring and process optimization for additive manufacturing of sustainable materials such as biopolymers, recycled materials, and calcium carbonate-based composites, aiming to enhance their quality and reliability. Gu is the recipient of several awards, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, PMSE ACS Young Investigator Award, Sloan Research Fellowship, ARO Early Career Program Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, LLNL Early Career UC Faculty Initiative Award, ONR Young Investigator Award, and 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award.
She has given dozens of invited lectures and seminars, including TEDxBerkeley. Gu has co-organized symposiums at various conferences and serves on the editorial/advisory boards of several journals. She organizes an annual 3D printing workshop at Berkeley aimed at inspiring the next generation of students to pursue careers in science and engineering.
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Award Details
The award consists of a symposium in association with the Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) Division of the ACS and a dinner in recognition of the recipient at the ACS Fall meeting, a $5,000 prize, and travel expenses of up to $1,000 to the ACS Fall meeting for the award year. Award recipients will submit a Review, Highlight, or Perspective article based on the topic of their award lecture, which will be published in an ongoing Virtual Issue of Journal of Polymer Science.
History
Journal of Polymer Science founded this award in 2012 as a premiere award for young investigators in polymer science and engineering.
Nominations
Please see the Journal of Polymer Science nomination page for more details.
Past Recipients
Nominations and Award Process
Rules of Eligibility
he nominee must be 40 years of age or younger at the time the nomination period opens (October 1). Please note career interruptions, such as parental leave, will be taken into consideration when determining applicant eligibility – please detail circumstances for extension of the age limitations in the nomination letter. Nominations are welcome from all sectors of industry, government and academia.
Nominations Process and Award Selection
Journal of Polymer Science runs the official nomination and award selection process.
The Journal of Polymer Science nomination page will have the current information to submit a nominations package and submission email.
Awards are based on information from the nomination package detailed on the nomination page and an up-to-date CV of the nominee. Selections are made by a committee managed by the Journal of Polymer Science editors.
Award Announcement and Nature
Awardees will be notified before the deadline for submission of the abstracts for the fall ACS meeting.
The award consists of a symposium in association with the Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) Division of the ACS and a dinner in recognition of the recipient at the ACS Fall meeting, a $5,000 prize, and travel expenses of up to $1,000 to the ACS Fall meeting for the award year. Awards are given to young scientists exploring exciting new fields in the chemistry and physics of polymer systems. Award recipients will submit a Review, Highlight, or Perspective article based on the topic of their award lecture, which will be published in an ongoing Virtual Issue of the Journal of Polymer Science.
About Journal of Polymer Science
Journal of Polymer Science publishes outstanding and in-depth research on all aspects of polymer science – both the core sub-disciplines and research at the frontiers of the field. The scope covers polymer chemistry, polymer physics, polymer engineering, as well as applied science, including biomedical applications; polymers for energy, the environment and sustainability; biomimetics; and smart devices.
Since its launch in 1946 by P. M. Doty, H. Mark, and C.C. Price, the Journal of Polymer Science has served the community as a forum for fundamental research on synthesis, chemistry, physics, and engineering of polymers. It ever evolved into a few sister journals to pace the development rhythm of polymer science.
From January 2020, the Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry and Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics are published as the single original title, the Journal of Polymer Science. It aims to provide a unified, inclusive, and dynamic forum for this rapidly developing multidisciplinary area. With a continuous value deemed to the chemistry, physics and engineering of polymers, it will extend its coverage to all aspects of polymer studies.
Full List of Award Winners
| Year | Winner | University | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Grace Gu | University of California, Berkeley | Announcment Link |
| 2024 | Athina Anastaski | ETH Zurich | Announcment Link |
| 2023 | Emily Pentzer | Texas A&M University | Announcment Link |
| 2022 | Frank A. Leibfarth | University of North Carolina | Announcment Link |
| 2021 | Garret Miyake | Colorado State University | Announcment Link |
| 2020 | Brett P. Fors | Cornell University | Announcment Link |
| 2019 | Patricia Dankers | Eindhoven University of Technology | Announcment Link |
| 2018 | Rachel O’Reilly | University of Birmingham, UK | Announcment Link |
| 2017 | Luis M. Campos | Columbia Univeristy | Announcment Link |
| 2016 | Cyrille Boyer | University of New South Wales | Announcment Link |
| 2015 | Rachel A. Segalman | University of California, Santa Barbara | Announcment Link |
| 2014 | Brent Sumerlin | University of Florida | Announcment Link |
| 2013 | Ryan Hayward | University of Massachusetts, Amherst | Announcment Link |
| 2012 | Christopher Bielawski | University of Texas at Austin | Announcment Link |