NJ ACS Awards

NJ ACS administers eight annual or biennial awards to recognize the contributions from its members and to promote the advancement of chemistry.

Recognize someone now by nominating them for an award! There are links below for nomination forms for many of the awards. For more information on these awards and to submit a nomination, please contact Diane Krone, Awards Committee Chair, at dkrone@njacs.org.

The Section also helps support the nomination of Section members for National and other ACS awards and recognition – contact the Awards Chair for assistance.

The Section would also like to recognize Section members who receive National and Regional ACS Awards – if you know of any North Jersey awardees in current or past years, please inform the Awards Committee Chair so that their achievements can be noted by the Section.

This award is given to a North Jersey chemist or chemical engineer over fifty years of age for conspicuous achievements in chemistry, not heretofore recognized by any major scientific award. Awardees are nominated biennially (odd years) by public advertising and receive a $1,000 prize and a recognition plaque. This award was established in 1993.

Nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award open November 1 of even years with a submission deadline of February 28 of odd years. Submissions to Diane Krone, Awards Committee Chair, at dkrone@njacs.org. Nomination form and guidelines are here: [ docx, pdf ].

The North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society (NJACS) proudly announces the establishment of the Bill Suits Memorial Scholarship, created to honor and commemorate one of its most impactful members, who passed away on April 9, 2020, due to complications related to COVID-19.

Bill Suits is remembered throughout the ACS community for his passionate dedication to mentoring high school students in the ACS Project SEED program, his long-standing service as a career consultant, and his active leadership within NJACS.

Scholarship categories

Category 1 student eligibility

• Completed at least one summer in the NJACS Project SEED program or Rutgers SEED site.
• and be a 2026 graduate of New Jersey high school.
• and planning to enter college and major in a science related field in the 2026-2027 academic year

Category 1 student application requirements

• High school transcript submitted as pdf file in the student application form
• Personal essay, 500-word limit, essay submission is in the application form
• Recommendation from SEED professor mentor submitted in the mentor recommendation form

Congratulation to the 2026 Bill Suits SEED Scholars:

Allyson Herrera
Graduate of Morristown High School
Research at Seton Hall University with Professor Joseph Badillo
Attending Princeton University (Chemistry)

Michaela Uzoukwu
Graduate of Saint Vincent Academy
Research at Rutgers, Newark with Professor Huixin He
Attending The College of New Jersey (Chemistry/Biochemistry)

The application process for 2027 scholarships will begin in June 2027

Student application form:

https://forms.gle/mC9VHNCBeChpnHym7

Mentor recommendation form:

https://forms.gle/ALzbUrmpkyCAKp5f9

Category 2 student eligibility

• Applicant or one of the applicant’s parents, guardians, or high school teachers is a member of the NJACS
• Is enrolled in an undergraduate program aiming to major in a science-related field or
• a 2026 graduate of a New Jersey high school and who plans to enter college with the aim of majoring in a science-related field or
• attending a post-secondary educational institution starting in fall of 2026, planning to major in a science-related field.

Category 2 students application requirements

• High school or college transcript
• Personal essay, 500-word maximum
• Recommendation from a mentor (high-school- or college professor)
• Resume submission

Congratulations to the 2026 Scholars for Category 2:

Keena Rhouisa Obrique
Freshman at Vanderbilt University
Biochemistry/Chemical Biology Major

Hrithika Subramanian
Senior at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Biochemistry Major

The application process for Category 2 2027 Scholarships will begin in the spring of 2027

Student application form:

https://forms.gle/gXUXTwcyLJDUrA9W8

Mentor recommendation form:

https://forms.gle/ReijqeWD5G15nFpWA

About Bill Suits

Bill Suits attended the University of Wisconsin on a football scholarship and majored in chemistry. He went on to build a diverse career as a product specialist and sales representative, primarily at Varian.

He was deeply involved with the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society, serving in numerous leadership roles, including Chair of NJACS in 2001, and contributing to national ACS committees.

A passionate advocate for education and science, Bill volunteered extensively. He worked with Students2Science, organized and judged the annual NJACS Project SEED poster session, and helped connect high school teachers with ACS, many of whom later became NJACS leaders and national contributors.

Bill also led humanitarian efforts through AIDSfreeAfrica, helping provide drugs and diagnostics to people in Cameroon. As a career consultant, he influenced and guided the professional lives of countless chemists. His legacy continues through this scholarship.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows Program was established in 2008 to recognize members of the ACS for outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the profession, and the Society. Nominees for the ACS Fellows Program must be current members (including retired and emeritus members) of the American Chemical Society in good standing with either a standard or premium membership package. Nominations for the 2025 Class of ACS Fellows will be open from February 1 to April 1, 2025. Information about submitting a nomination and how ACS Fellows are selected can be found at the ACS Fellows Program website.

The following NJACS members have been recognized as ACS Fellows:

The Leo Hendrik Baekeland Award was established in September 1944 by the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society. It consists of a gold plated medal and $5,000. It is conferred biennially upon a US-based chemist under 40 years of age in recognition of accomplishments in pure or industrial chemistry, as characterized by the initiative, creativeness, leadership, and perseverance of the individual and indicated by published or unpublished evidence. The award was established to commemorate the technical and industrial achievements of Baekeland and to encourage younger chemists to emulate his example. The Award is now presented as part of a symposium with other speakers. The result is an excellent symposium that allows industrial scientists, academics and students to come together and enjoy both cutting edge science and an opportunity to interact with leading scientists.

Call for nominations: Because of scheduling conflicts in its 2025 schedule, the ACS North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society will present the Leo Hendrik Baekeland Award at a symposium in the fall of 2026 and continues to solicit nominations. The Award consists of a gold medal and a $5,000 honorarium. The Award is given in recognition of accomplishments in pure or applied chemistry to an US-based chemist as characterized by the initiative, creativeness, leadership, and perseverance of the individual (indicated by published or unpublished evidence) and who were under the age of 40 as of January 15, 2025.

Nominations should include a letter describing the nominee’s achievements, a brief biography and curriculum vitae, and a list of the nominee’s important published works. Supporting letters are strongly encouraged.

Email the completed nomination form and enclosures to Diane Krone, Awards Committee Chair, for receipt by January 15, 2026 at dkrone@njacs.org. Enter the title of the award in the subject line.

Re-nominations are encouraged, provided the age requirement is still met.

Nomination Packet (docx; pdf)

The Award for Creativity in Molecular Design and Synthesis is given in recognition of accomplishment in pure or applied chemistry, as characterized by the initiative, creativeness, leadership, and perseverance of the individual and indicated by published or unpublished evidence. “Accomplishment” for the purpose of this Award is understood to be that of a world renown leader of unusual merit, with an emphasis on an individual who has demonstrated broad scoping impact in the areas of chemical synthesis, method development, bio-organic/medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and/or molecular recognition.

This award is the sister award to the Section’s Baekeland Award. This award is presented in even years, snd it managed by the Organic Topical Group.

Recipients:

2024 – Prof. Jin-Quan Yu
2022 – Prof. Carolyn R. Bertozzi
2021 – Prof. Stephen L. Buchwald
2018 – Dr. Anne Weber
2016 – Prof. Eric Jacobsen
2014 – Prof. David MacMillan
2012 – Prof. K.C. Nicolaou
2010 – Prof Dave Evans
2008 – Dr Malcolm MacCoss
2006 – Prof Samual Danishefski

This award is given to a professor from a degree granting Institution in the North Jersey Section for inspiring students and launching them on successful careers in chemistry as manifested by their accomplishments. Awardees are nominated biennially (even years) by their former students and receive a $1,000 prize and a recognition plaque. This award was established in 1993. Nominations and nomination form [ docx, pdf ] due by February 28 of even years.

This award is given to a member of the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society for conspicuous service to Section. Awardees are nominated biennially (even years) by the Section and receive a $200 prize and a recognition plaque. This award was established in 1978 and is funded by the North Jersey Section.  Nominations are due by February 28 of even years using this form: [ docx, pdf ].

This award recognizes any members of the Section who do not hold an elective office of the Section, but who may be elected by members of Topical Groups, etc., and who participated for at least five years in the management of affairs of the Section with dedication and noticeable success. The award consists of a recognition plaque that is presented at the annual Section Awards Banquet.  Nominations are due by February 28 of even years using this form: [ docx, pdf ].

The Section participates in the National ACS Salutes to Excellence Award program

This recognition award gives ACS members an opportunity to underscore outstanding accomplishments, achievements or service for individuals who have made a positive impact on everyday life. Nationally, since the program began in 2000, more than 500 honorees have received Salutes to Excellence awards. This Award can also be used to recognize a place or organization supporting the work of ACS (in our case the work of the North Jersey Section).

Each ACS Section can submit nominations for this award (we use the information supplied via our standard nomination form [ docx, pdf ] with an annual deadline of February 28. For nominating a place or organization a CV is not required).

ACS awards various National and Regional Awards and the many dedicated chemists in the North Jersey section regularly receive recognition in the form of these awards. The North Jersey Section would like to further acknowledge and recognize these outstanding chemists and Section members.

If you received an ACS Award given by a group other than the North Jersey Section (or know of an awardee) please inform the North Jersey Awards Committee Chair so that the Section can also recognize this achievement.

• NJACS-MSDG sponsors five Mass Spectrometry (Topical Group Awards) awards for the promotion of mass spectrometry in the greater New Jersey region. (including New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware). Visit the Mass Spectrometry page for details.
  • New Jersey Regional Award for Achievements in Mass Spectrometry
  • New Jersey Early Career Award in Mass Spectrometry
  • New Jersey Distinguished Service Award in Mass Spectrometry
  • NJACS-MSDG Student Travel Award
  • NJACS-MSDG Distinguished Lectureship
• The Education Committee of the Section oversees and administers five education awards. Visit the Education Page for details.
  • The Edward J. Merrill Award
  • The E. Emmet Reid Award
  • The Cecil L. Brown Lectureship Award
  • The MARM Award For High School Chemistry Teaching
  • The James Bryant Conant Award
• National and Regional Awards received by North Jersey Section members [ details ]