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Roy W. Tess Award

The Roy W. Tess Award recognizes outstanding individual achievements and noteworthy contributions to coatings science, technology, and engineering

2024 Award Winner

Prof. Jamie Grunlan
Texas A&M University

Professor Jamie Grunlan

Professor Jaime Grunlan is the Leland T. Jordan ’29 Chair of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he has worked for 21 years. He holds joint appointments in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on thermal and transport properties of polymer nanocomposites, primarily in the form of coatings. He is a world leader in organic thermoelectric materials, gas barrier layers, and environmentally-benign, flame retardant nanocoatings. He holds 17 issued U.S. patents and several EU patents that have been licensed to more than 10 companies. He has published more than 230 journal papers, with an h-index of 67 and more than 28,000 citations. Dr. Grunlan has graduated 32 PhD students and has mentored more than 50 undergraduate students. His work has been highlighted in Smithsonian Magazine and the New York Times. He is an Editor of the Journal of Materials Science (SpringerNature) and Progress in Organic Coatings (Elsevier), along with being on various boards for several other top polymer journals. Prof. Grunlan is also on the Editorial Board of seven other journals. Prof. Grunlan became a Fellow of the American Chemical Society (FACS) in 2023. In 2024, he became a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (FNAI), along with being named Fellow of the POLY and PMSE Divisions of ACS.

The Tess Award is presented annually by the Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering at the Fall National ACS Meeting in recognition of outstanding contributions to coatings science, engineering and technology. It is funded by a grant to the Division from Dr. and Mrs. Roy W. Tess. The purpose of the award is to encourage interest and progress in coatings science technology and engineering and to recognize significant contributions to the field. The Award consists of a plaque and a $3000 cash prize, and coverage of travel expenses (up to a maximum of $1500).  We look forward to recognizing Professor Grunlan at the PMSE/POLY Plenary Lecture and Awards Reception this Fall in Washington, DC.

Award Details

The award recognizes outstanding individual achievements and note-worthy contributions to coatings science, technology, and engineering

History

The award was originally established in 1986 and is funded by a grant to the Division from Dr. and Mrs. Roy W. Tess.

Nominations

Nomination packages should follow package submission guidelines detailed below.

Nominations will be reviewed by members of the Roy W. Tess Award Committee, PMSE Past Chair and additional reviewers selected by the committee.

Past Recipients

Nominations and Award Process

Purpose

The Roy W. Tess Award was inaugurated to recognize outstanding individual achievements and note-worthy contributions to coatings science, technology, and engineering. The PMSE Division history started in paints and coatings, and the Division continues long-standing and continuing support and dedication to excellence in the science, technology, and engineering of coatings.

Rules of Eligibility

The nominee(s) for this award must have a documented record of impactful individual achievements and contributions to coatings science, technology, and engineering. Nominees are strongly encouraged to be members of the PMSE Division.

Nominations Package

Nominations are welcome from all sectors of industry, government and academia by September 1 of each year.

The  Tess Award Criteria and nomination procedure is available as a [PDF], listing the preferred contents and format for a nomination.  Nominations should be submitted to the Chair of the Roy W. Tess Award Committee.  Nominations will be reviewed by members of the Roy W. Tess Award Committee, PMSE Past Chair and additional reviewers selected by the committee. Each nomination will be considered viable during four award years following its receipt but must be renewed beyond that time.

The deadline for applications to be considered for the 2024 – 2027 Roy W. Tess Award in Coatings will be September 1, 2023, to Jamil Baghdachi [E-mail].

Award Selection

Awardees will be selected based on accomplishments, the importance of these accomplishments to the nominee’s profession, and the overall impact on the field of polymer science and engineering.

Nominations will be reviewed by members of the Roy W. Tess Award Committee, PMSE Past Chair and additional reviewers selected by the committee. Each nomination will be considered viable during four award years following its receipt but must be renewed beyond that time.

Award Announcement and Nature

Awardees will be notified early in the calendar year of the award, prior to the ACS National Meeting.

The awardee will receive a $3000 prize, plaque, and a $1500 maximum travel allowance to attend the Fall ACS National Meeting. At the National Meeting, an invited symposium is held in the awardee’s honor on topics related to the research field and collaborators that contributed to the award selection. An evening reception in honor of the Tess award recipient and other PMSE and POLY award winners will also be held.

Full List of Award Winners

YearNameAffiliationAnnouncement
2025Jamie GrunlanTexas A&M UniversityLink
2024Wenjun WuArkema Coating ResinsLink
2023Peter ZarrasNaval Air Warfare Center Weapons DivisionLink
2022Richard SpontakNorth Carolina State UniversityLink
2021Shanti SwarupPPG IndustriesLink
2020Qinghuang LinIBM AlmadenLink
2019Ray FernandoCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoLink
2018Christopher N. BowmanUniversity of Colorado BoulderLink
2017Stuart CrollNorth Dakota State UniversityLink
2016Mark SoucekUniversity of AkronLink
2015Jamil BaghdachiEastern Michigan UniversityLink
2014James V. CrivelloRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteLink
2013Gordon P. BierwagenNorth Dakota State UniversityLink
2012Benny D. FreemanUniversity of Texas at AustinLink
2011Dean C. WebsterNorth Dakota State UniversityLink
2010Charles R. HegedusAir Products and ChemicalsLink
2009Christian DeckerNational Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)Link
2008Clifford K. SchoffPPG IndustriesLink
2007L. E. (Skip) ScrivenUniversity of MinnesotaLink
2006Jonathan W. MartinNational Institute of Standards and TechnologyLink
2005J. Edward GlassNorth Dakota State UniversityLink
2004Omkaram NalamasuRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteLink
2003Rose RyntzVisteon CorporationLink
2002Mohamed El-AasserLehigh UniversityLink
2001Frank N. JonesEastern Michigan UniversityLink
2000David R. BauerFord Motor CompanyLink
1999Mitchell A. WinnikUniversity of TorontoNot Available
1998Loren W. HillNorth Dakota State University (NDSU)Not Available
1997Werner J. BlankKing Industries, Inc.Not Available
1996John K. GillhamPrinceton UniversityNot Available
1995John L. GardonRohm and HaasNot Available
1994Werner FunkeForschungsinstitut fuer Pigmente und Lacke e.V.Not Available
1993Larry F. ThompsonBell LaboratoriesNot Available
1992Ray A. DickieFord Motor CompanyNot Available
1991Kenneth L. HoyApplied Science Consulting ServicesNot Available
1990Walter K. AsbeckSherman-WilliamsNot Available
1989Theodore ProvderEastern Michigan UniversityNot Available
1988Zeno W. Wicks, Jr.North Dakota State UniversityNot Available
1987Marco WismerPPG IndustriesNot Available
1986Williams D. EmmonsRohm and HaasNot Available
1985Sherwin-Williams Student AwardHarvard UniversityNot Available