Joseph Breen Memorial Fellowship
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Each year, the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI) awards one or more Dr. Joseph Breen Memorial Fellowships. The award sponsors the participation of a young international green chemistry scholar in a green chemistry technical meeting, conference or training program. The amount of the award is based on the estimated cost of travel, accommodation, and fees associated with the event, up to $2000 USD. If two Breen Fellowships are given in any one year, one of the awards will be given to an undergraduate student and the other award to a graduate or post-graduate student.
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“Young” international scholar is defined as undergraduate students and above, but below the level of Assistant Professor and within the first seven years of a professional career. Applicants residing both within the U.S. and internationally are eligible for this award.
The travel must be to a green chemistry technical meeting, conference or training program. Students should consider attending the 24th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, held June 15-17, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. Award funds cannot be used to attend the ACS Summer School on Green Chemistry and Sustainable Energy.
The applicant must demonstrate research or educational interest in green chemistry. Green chemistry for this purpose is defined as “the discovery and design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.”
The fellow also must give an oral or poster presentation on his/her interest area during the conference as well as submit a report to ACS GCI on his/her experience after the conference in order to receive reimbursement.
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Deadline
The deadline for the Joseph Breen Memorial Fellowship is 5 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, October 11, 2019. Please send your application in a single PDF file to gci@acs.org with “Breen Fellowship Application – [applicant’s last name]” in the subject line.
Application Instructions
Applications must be a single PDF file, no longer than six, 8½-by-11-inch pages, written in font no smaller than 11 point, with margins of at least 1 inch and should include the following:
- Cover page (no more than one page) including:
- Applicant’s name, department, institution (or company) and field of study.
- Name of applicant’s faculty advisor (or supervisor) and contact information.
- Name, date and location of the conference or meeting the applicant is requesting funding to attend.
- Estimated budget for travel expenses, up to $2,000 (including conference registration fees, travel, and accommodations) to participate in the meeting. The award will be mailed as a reimbursement check after the conference takes place. Meals/food is not a reimbursable expense.
- Essay (no more than one page) by the applicant concerning his/her interest in green chemistry, including any previous experience with the field, how he/she will benefit from participation in the selected conference, and why he/she should be selected to receive the award.
- A curriculum vita or résumé no more than two pages in length including:
- Applicant’s name, department, institution (or company), and faculty advisor (or supervisor).
- Applicant’s mailing address, telephone, and email.
- A few sentences on the applicant’s green chemistry teaching or research interests and career plans.
- Field of study, degrees (including month and year earned or expected), education experience, including GPA or other measure of class standing, and work experience (if any).
- List of recent presentations and publications (if any).
- Letter of recommendation from the applicant's faculty advisor, supervisor or department chair (no more than two pages in length). The letter may be sent separately or included with the other application materials.
Judging
A panel of experts selected by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® will judge the applications. This panel might include members of the scientific, educational, industrial, governmental, and environmental communities.
Notification and Award
Notification of the award and award amount will be made on or before November 15, 2019. The award will be mailed as a reimbursement check after the conference takes place. To receive the reimbursement, a 1-page written report and travel expense receipts will be required.
Downloadable Application
For a printable version of this application, please download the 2020 Joseph Breen Memorial Fellowship Application.
- Cover page (no more than one page) including:
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The ACS established the Dr. Joseph Breen Memorial Fund through the ACS International Endowment Fund in 2000. Dr. Joe Breen was the first director of the Green Chemistry Institute (prior to the Institute becoming part of the ACS) and was instrumental in establishing the green chemistry movement. This fund commemorates Dr. Joe Breen’s commitment and accomplishments for the advancement of green chemistry.
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Table of Joseph Breen Memorial Fellowship Winners 2006-2018 Year Name and Institution Research Area 2018 Bonnie Buss
Colorado State UniversityOrganic photoredox catalysts and photo-flow reactor systems
2018 Luke Morrical
Ohio State UniversityCombating microbial contamination in food with botanical compounds and biobased polymers
2017 Caitilín McManus
Trinity College, DublinPalladium substitution in Buchwald coupling reaction
2017 Samantha Smith
University of TorontoDesign and applications of new iron-based hydrogenation catalyst
2016 Sarah Kwan
Yale UniversityExploring the rate of surface microbial redevelopment after cleaning in schools; DNA-sequencing and ATP analysis
2016 John-Hanson Machado
George Washington UniversityComputational modelling of skin permeability
2015 Lauren Grant
University of California, BerkeleyTransition metal homogeneous catalysis
2015 Zachary Wickens
California Institute of TechnologyOrganic and organometallic chemistry
2014 Jennifer Dodson
Fedderal University of Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDevelopment of natural catalysts from marine polysaccharides
2013 Julia Griffen
University of BathSustainable synthesis of biologically active azacarbasugars via microbial arene oxidation
2013 Michiel Dusselier
Catholic University of Leuven, BelgiumApplication of catalysis and green engineering techniques for processes towards the synthesis of biodegradable polymers
2012 Danniebelle Haase
University of PennsylvaniaOrganic/biological chemistry; Use of catalysts in reactions rather than stoichiometric reagents
2012 Kadhiravan Shanmuganathan
University of Texas, AustinGreener approach to fiber spinning
2011 Henning Kayser
Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare ChemieTailor made fuels from biomass
2011 Michelle Linder
SUNY College at OneontaGreen synthesis of imines
2010 Keary Mark Engle
The Scripps Research Institute
Conversion of unactivated carbon– hydrogen (C–H) bonds into carbon–carbon (C–C) bonds using operationally simple and environmentally benign reagents
2010 Galia Maayan
University of FloridaGreen oxidation catalysis & alternative energy
2009 Evan Beach
Yale UniversitySustainability and biofuels
2009 Pete Heinzelman
California Institute of TechnologyEnzymatic biomass conversion processes
2008 Antonio Osario-Lozada
The University of IowaMicrobial methods for the oxidation of diclofenac
2008 Mageswary Karpudewan
Universiti Sains MalaysiaGreen chemistry education
2007 Zoe Schnepp
University of BristolBioconversion of lignin to useful chemical feedstocks
2007 Adelina Voutchkova
Yale UniversityGreen variant of the Suzuki reaction
2006 Dara Woerdeman
Drexel UniversityMaterials: Molecular to macroscopic scale
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Questions about the Breen Memorial Fellowship should be directed to the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®: Email gci@acs.org; Telephone +1 (202) 872-6102.