Bower Awards are made possible by a $7.5 million grant from the noted Philadelphia chemical engineer Henry Bower.  They are one of the most robust science prizes in the country, carrying a cash award of $250K.  Since their initiation in 1990, they have been awarded to scientists of almost every discipline.   Other notable chemists who have received the award are Paul C. Lauterbur, who is credited with the discovery of NMR imaging, and Henri B. Kagan, who discovered fundamental chemicals principles that explain catalytic behavior.

Professor Brus's research is in the physical chemistry of materials, interfaces, nanocrystals, and nanotubes, particularly with respect to optical and electronic properties. The work includes theoretical modeling, experimental chemical physics, and synthetic chemistry.  His research program seeks to create new materials with nanoscale structure by both kinetic and thermodynamic self-assembly methods. In the last several years, his group has has developed interests in metallic SWNT carbon nanotubes and in Ag nanocrystals as microscopic antennas for local electromagnetic field enhancement.

You can learn more about the Franklin Institute Awards on their .  Information about the work of Professor Brus's research group may be found on their .

Congratulations to Professor Tristan Lambert, who has been  selected as a 2011 Eli Lilly Grantee Award winner.  The Lilly Program recognizes "new professors based on their initial research impact and their future academic research potential."  There are typically just three award winners each year in the Lilly program.  In addition to presenting at the Lilly Grantee Symposium in 2014, Professor Lambert will receive a two year unrestricted research grant worth $100,000.  Previous Lilly Grantee Award winners in Columbia's chemistry department are Professor Scott Snyder in 2009 and Professor James Leighton in 1999.  You can learn more about Professor Lambert's research program on his group website.