51茶馆 chemistry researcher named Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jia Niu has been named a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar for 2023, recognition of his 鈥渙utstanding independent body of scholarship鈥� and his deep commitment to education, according to the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
Niu, who joined the Chemistry Department in 2017, conducts research focused on creating precision functional macromolecules to address the pressing needs in biomedicine, materials, and environmental sciences.
鈥淚 am honored and humbled to be recognized with the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award,鈥� said Niu. 鈥淚 so appreciate my mentors and students for their guidance, support, and dedication throughout my academic journey. I am grateful for my colleagues at Boston College who have offered their trust and support that allowed me to develop as an educator and scholar in chemical science.鈥�
The 18 honorees each recieve $100,000 to support their research. Niu is working on a project titled 鈥淧recision Macromolecules for Sustainability and Biological Discoveries.鈥�
Macromolecules are large and complex molecules found everywhere in nature and our daily lives, Niu said. Examples such as DNA and protein are produced naturally. Others, like plastics and rubber, are made by humans.
鈥淯sually, we think of natural and artificial macromolecules as separate things with little overlap,鈥� said Niu. 鈥淗owever, our research group will break that tradition by combining chemistry and biology to create macromolecules that have precise structures and sequences. These specially designed macromolecules can be widely used in materials, sustainability, and biological applications.鈥�
Among his other honors, Niu is the recipient of a 2020 National Science Foundation CAREER Award for early-career scientists; and in 2019 a Beckman Young Investigator Award and a National Institutes of Health Director鈥檚 New Innovator Award, which included $2.3 million in research funding.
Niu鈥檚 research has been published in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals including ACS Central Science and Nature Chemistry, where last month he was the lead author of the report 鈥淧recision native polysaccharides from living polymerization of anhydrosugars.鈥�
鈥淔rom our chair on down, my colleagues in the chemistry department have fostered a nurturing and inspiring atmosphere that has been incredibly beneficial to me,鈥� said Niu. 鈥淚 consider myself incredibly lucky to be a part of this exceptional department.鈥�
Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholars for 2023 are within the first five years of their academic careers, have each created an 鈥渙utstanding independent body of scholarship, and are deeply committed to education,鈥� according to the foundation announcement.
鈥淲e are most grateful to have colleagues like Jia and his selection as Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award is well-deserved recognition of his excellence as a researcher, mentor, and teacher,鈥� said Chemistry Department Chair and Margaret A. and Thomas A. '53 Vanderslice Professor Dunwei Wang. 鈥淗e represents our dedication to building a world class program in chemistry research and education.鈥�
The seeks teacher-scholars who demonstrate leadership in research and education. Nominations must provide compelling evidence of the advance of important knowledge in the chemical sciences by the nominee, the foundation said. A particular emphasis is placed on candidates鈥� contributions to undergraduate education in the chemical sciences.
Established in 1946 by chemist, inventor, and businessman Camille Dreyfus as a memorial to his brother Henry, The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., seeks to advance the science of chemistry, chemical engineering, and related sciences as a means of improving human relations and circumstances throughout the world.