Chemistry of Thermoplastic Elastomers Award

Recent Recipients

Dr. Richard J. Spontak -- 2008

Dr. Richard J. Spontak, an alumni distinguished professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and materials science and engineering at N.C. State University, is a member of honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, Phi Lambda Upsilon and Omicron Delta Kappa, Spontak received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering (with honors/high distinction) from the Pennsylvania State University in 1983, and was later awarded a Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering (under the supervision of M.C. Williams) from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988. He then pursued post-doctoral research with A.H. Windle in materials science and metallurgy at the University of Cambridge (U.K.), and with T. Riste in condensed matter physics at the Institut for Energiteknikk (Norway) before joining the corporate research division of the Procter & Gamble in 1990. He accepted a faculty position at N.C. State University in 1992.

Spontak has published over 250 research papers, and his work has been featured on the cover of 15 journals and one book. His research interests relate to the phase behavior and morphology/property development of nanostructured polymers, polymer nanocomposites, electron microscopy and (supra)molecular organogels. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Sigma Xi Outstanding Research Award, the Alcoa Engineering Achievement Award, Alexander von Humboldt and Tewkesbury fellowships, the N.C. State Alumni Outstanding Research Award, the 2006 American Chemical Society (PMSE Division) Cooperative Research Award and the 2007 German Society for Electron Microscopy Ernst Ruska Prize.

 

Dr. Dale J. Meier - 2007

Dr. Meier received his PhD from the University of California at Los Angeles. He served as a 1st Lt., Infantry Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Since 1972, Dr. Meier has worked as a Distinguished MMI Fellow, Professor and Program Manager at the Michigan Molecular Institute. He currently holds Adjunct Professorships at Michigan Technological University and Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Meier holds memberships in prestigious associations such as the American Physical Society (Fellow), American Chemical Society, Society of Rheology, Materials Research Society, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards such as his paper “Theory of Block Copolymers” selected as one of the twelve most significant papers published in the past 50 years of the Journal of Polymer Science. Dr. Meier has edited two books and over 90 papers and patents on polymer physics, block copolymers, silicone chemistry, polymer rheology, inorganic and colloid chemistry.

Past Recipients

1. 2007 - Dale J. Meier - Microphase Separation and Thermoplastic Elastomers
2. 2006 - Garth L. Wilkes
3. 2002 - Anil K. Bhowmick - RC&T Vol. 75 (2)
4. 2001 - James McGrath - RC&T Vol. 74 (3)
5. 1996 - Charles S. Schollenberger - RC&T Vol. 69 (3)
6. 1993 - Geoffrey Holden - RC&T Vol. 66 (3)
7. 1992 - William K. Witsiepe - RC&T Vol. 65 (3)
8. 1991 - Aubert Y. Coran and Raman P. Patel - RC&T Vol. 64 (3)