Author: Beykal, Burcu

Celebrating the 2025 Research Excellence Awards

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Congratulations to our outstanding graduate students who received the 2025 Research Excellence Awards:

    Zahir Aghayev
    Nicole Beauregard
    Adrian Irhamna

This award recognizes exceptional research contributions—including impactful publications, conference presentations, patent applications, and entrepreneurial activities.

As part of the honor, recipients will present their work in our departmental seminar series this fall. We look forward to learning more about the exciting research driving their success!

Celebrating Graduate Student Service Awards

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Well-deserved congratulations to our incredible graduate students who received the CBE Service Awards last year:

        Adaeze Maduako
        Nicole Beauregard
        Alanna Gado

From organizing Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association events and running highly competitive department-wide March Madness bracket competitions, to preparing first-year students with mock qualifiers and serving on the board of the John Lof Leadership Academy, these students exemplify leadership, collaboration, and community-building in our department.

Thank you for your outstanding service and for making CBE a stronger, more connected place!

President Radenka Maric Named a Fellow of The Electrochemical Society

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Congratulations to President Radenka Maric on being named a Fellow of The Electrochemical Society (ECS)—one of the highest honors in the field of electrochemistry and solid-state science!

Established in 1989, the ECS Fellowship recognizes individuals for their exceptional scientific contributions and active engagement in advancing the Society’s mission. Each year, no more than 15 distinguished members are selected worldwide for this prestigious title. President Maric is being recognized for her groundbreaking work in electrochemistry at surfaces and interfaces, and her leadership in developing nanomaterials for renewable energy and sensor technologies. She will be formally inducted at the 248th ECS Meeting in Chicago this October.

Read more on President Maric’s Journey on UConn Today.

Zhou Elected to Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering

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Congratulations to Professor Xiao-Dong Zhou on his election to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE)—a well-deserved honor recognizing his exceptional contributions to sustainable energy research!

As Director of UConn’s Center for Clean Energy Engineering, Dr. Zhou’s pioneering work continues to drive innovation in clean energy technologies, tackling some of today’s most urgent environmental challenges. He joins four other distinguished faculty members from the UConn College of Engineering in this prestigious recognition. We’re proud to see his impactful leadership celebrated at the state level and look forward to the continued influence of his work.

🔗 Read more on UConn Today.

Anson Ma Promoted to Full Professor

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Anson MaWe are thrilled to share that Dr. Anson Ma has been promoted to Full Professor effective this Fall! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ma on this well-earned recognition of his impactful contributions to research, teaching, and service. This milestone reflects years of innovation, leadership, and excellence in the field.

Check out the extensive list of all faculty members who have earned promotion and/or tenure on UConn Today.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St. Lucia

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Sir Cato LaurencinWe’re thrilled to celebrate Dr. Cato T. Laurencin’s appointment as Knight Commander of the Order of St. Lucia — earning him the title Sir Cato Laurencin.

This is one of the highest honors of St. Lucia and it’s a fitting tribute to a remarkable leader whose work in regenerative engineering and medicine has transformed lives around the world. From scientific innovation to mentoring the next generation, Sir Cato continues to inspire and uplift communities across disciplines and continents.

Read more about this extraordinary achievement on  UConn Today.

Katelynn Horvath ’25, College of Engineering

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Yongku Cho & Katelynn HorvathWe are excited to highlight yet another outstanding recent graduate of our department, Katelynn Horvath!

Katelynn conducted research with Professor Yongku Cho where she engineered proteins that bind to modified RNA molecules—critical tools for studying RNA modifications associated with human disease. Her passion for research led her to prestigious national opportunities: she was selected as a 2024 Amgen Scholar, spending a transformative summer at Caltech, and previously expanded her research experience as a 2023 REU participant at the University of Florida.

At UConn, Katelynn graduated as an Honors Scholar with a perfect GPA and served as one of the 2025 Engineering Commencement Banner Carriers — a distinction awarded to top-performing students who exemplify academic excellence and leadership. This fall, she will begin her PhD at MIT Chemical Engineering. We are incredibly proud of all she has accomplished and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in the world. Congratulations, Katelynn!

Jacob Crow ’25, College of Engineering

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Jacob CrowAs we continue to reflect on the commencement weekend, we’re thrilled to highlight the achievements of another outstanding graduate from our department, Jacob Crow!

Engineering runs deep in Jacob’s roots. With a proud Husky legacy—his grandmother, great aunt, parents, uncle, and siblings all UConn grads—Jacob continued the family tradition with excellence in College of Engineering. During his time at UConn, he actively participated in several professional and academic organizations, including the UConn Chapters of AIChE, ISPE, and Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), as well as the Badminton, Chess, and Quantum Computing Clubs.

This fall, Jacob is headed to Duke University to pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and materials science with Dr. Miaofang Chi.

Congratulations, Jacob – we are proud of your achievements and can’t wait to see what you will accomplish next!

Read Jacob’s story on UConn Today.

Camila Connolly ’25, College of Engineering

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Camila ConnollyAs Commencement Weekend comes to a close, we’re proud to share the incredible journey of one of our outstanding graduates, Camila Connolly!

Camila’s path through UConn is a powerful story of growth, leadership, and service. A Chemical Engineering major and Air Force ROTC cadet, she’s held numerous leadership roles across campus—including as a Weekend of Welcome captain, undergraduate TA for Engineering 1166: Foundations of Engineering, and an event manager/ambassador at the Student Union. She also held leadership roles with Phi Sigma Rho, Major General Joseph Ward Silver Wings Chapter, and the Towers Residence Hall Association.

Originally planning to attend medical school, Camila discovered her passion for engineering after joining ROTC and interning at Pratt & Whitney. That pivotal experience reshaped her goals—and now, she’s preparing to commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. She’ll begin her career as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer at Kadena Air Base in Japan before transitioning into acquisitions and, eventually, project management in the aerospace defense industry.

Congratulations, Camila — we are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and excited for all that’s ahead!

Read Camilla’s story on UConn Today.

Caitlin Noonan Named Goldwater Scholar

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We are extremely proud of our junior, Caitlin Noonan ’26, for being named a Goldwater Scholar!

The Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most prestigious national scholarships for undergraduates in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Established by Congress to honor the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, the scholarship recognizes students with exceptional promise and encourages them to pursue research careers.

This year, Caitlin is one of only 441 students selected nationwide from a pool of over 5,000 applicants—a remarkable achievement!

Caitlin works with Prof. Julia Valla on converting UConn’s food waste into activated carbon adsorbents for carbon capture, sequestration, and use. This summer, she will continue her impactful work as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) awardee through UConn’s Office of Undergraduate Research. We can’t wait to see the incredible impact she’ll make in the future of science and engineering.

Read more on UConn Today.