Warmest congratulations to our fourth-year Ph.D. candidate Guilherme Pereira de Souza Del Rio Bertola on receiving one of two 2025 NERPG; New England Rubber & Plastics Group Scholarships!
The NERPG, a division of the American Chemical Society, supports knowledge exchange among chemists, engineers, and professionals working in rubber and plastics chemistry and engineering. This prestigious scholarship recognizes Guilherme’s innovative research, conducted under the supervision of Professor Anson Ma, on simulating the microwave curing of fully compounded 3D-printed elastomers—advancing rapid prototyping and scalable manufacturing of customized, stretchable components used in medical devices, automotive systems, and consumer products.
We are excited to see the future achievements that await him.
Awards
Laurencin Receives Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to Sir Dr. Cato Laurencin on receiving the Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his pioneering contributions to biomaterials, regenerative engineering, and translational medicine.
Established in 2020, the Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award honors excellence in research and development while serving as a catalyst for advancing the field, fostering international collaboration, and inspiring innovation.
Dr. Laurencin’s visionary work has defined the field of regenerative engineering, bridging engineering, biology, and medicine to create transformative clinical solutions. At UConn, he holds joint appointments in Orthopedic Surgery, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering.
Widely recognized as the founder and pioneer of regenerative engineering, Dr. Laurencin is an expert in biomaterials science, stem cell technology, and nanotechnology, and was named one of the 100 Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Read more about this well-deserved recognition on UConn Today.
Burkey and Crowl Awarded an NSF Grant to Study Engineering Ethics
Congratulations to Dan Burkey and Monika Crowl on being awarded a $750K NSF grant through the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program!
Dan Burkey, Castleman Term Professor of Engineering Innovation and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, will lead this multi-institutional project. He is joined by Monika Crowl, Assistant Professor-in-Residence from our department, along with Mike Young, Associate Professor Emeritus from Neag School of Education, and partners from the University of Pittsburgh and Rowan University.
The team aims to create a fun and engaging way for engineering students to learn about professional ethical decision making, preparing the next generation of engineers for the challenges of modern practice.
We are proud to celebrate Dan and Monika’s leadership and contributions to this transformative initiative!
Read more on UConn Today.
Beykal Granted Eversource Energy Professorship Position
Warmest congratulations to Professor Burcu Beykal for being awarded one of only two Eversource Energy Professorships in Environmental and Sustainability Education at University of Connecticut!
This prestigious professorship recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements of early-career faculty who exemplify research excellence in their fields. The two recipients were recently selected and honored by UConn College of Engineering Dean JC Zhao and UConn Tech Park Director, Eversource Energy Endowed Chair in Environmental Engineering, Emmanouil Anagnostou.
As a process systems engineer, Prof. Beykal’s research integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mathematical optimization to develop solutions for global water and critical mineral shortages. Her impressive track record includes 30 peer-reviewed publications—18 of which were published at UConn—11 invited talks, and over $2.5M in federal research funding.
Congratulations, Prof. Beykal! This recognition is well deserved!
Read more on UConn Today.
Laurencin Recognized as Springer Nature Editor of Distinction
Congratulations to Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD, KCSL, on receiving the 2025 Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Award!
This prestigious honor recognizes editors who embody scientific excellence, integrity, and leadership in advancing discovery. Prof. Sir Cato’s dedication to rigorous scholarship and impactful science continues to inspire our community.
Read more on UConn Today.
Sun Named Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor
Warmest congratulations to Professor Luyi Sun on being named a 2025 Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor—one of the highest honors UConn confers in recognition of sustained excellence in research, teaching, and service!
Prof. Sun leads an internationally recognized research program in nanostructured hybrid materials for functional, environmental, and energy-related applications. With over 310 peer-reviewed journal articles, his contributions to materials science have been widely impactful. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Society of Plastics Engineers. His work has also been recognized with prestigious honors including the Morand Lambla Award from the Polymer Processing Society and election to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering.
This award is a testament to Prof. Sun’s continued leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing science and education. Read more on Prof. Sun’s achievements on UConn Today.
Laurencin Honored by the West Indian Foundation
Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD, KCSL, was recently honored by the West Indian Foundation at their Board of Directors Reception for his outstanding contributions to the community!
A University Professor at UConn and internationally recognized leader in regenerative engineering, Professor Sir Laurencin continues to inspire through his groundbreaking research, commitment to equity, and unwavering dedication to mentorship and public service.
We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of a truly impactful scholar and community leader.
Read more on UConn Today.
Celebrating the 2025 Travel Awards
Congratulations to our graduate students who received the 2025 Travel Awards:
Nicole Beauregard
Marina Dabaghian
Dimitri Alston
Hasan Nikkhah
Adrian Irhamna
Kayla Smith
Maryam Mohebbi
Deniz Ipekci
Salman Ahmadipouya
Amir Shahbazi
These awards support student travel to present research, attend conferences, and engage with the broader scientific community. We look forward to seeing the impact of your work at national and international venues!
Celebrating the 2025 Best Teaching Assistants
Congratulations to our outstanding graduate students who received the 2025 Teaching Assistant Awards:
Joe Zavorskas
Nia Samuels
Kayla Smith
This award recognizes exemplary contributions to teaching, student learning, and supporting our academic programs. Thank you for your impactful work in the classroom!
Celebrating the 2025 Research Excellence Awards
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!