D.I.C. Wang Award for Excellence in Biochemical Engineering
Background
Professor Daniel I.C. Wang has made tremendous contributions to the biochemical engineering profession and biotechnology community, both in this country and internationally. He has been a pivotal leader in developing the biotechnology industry and in shaping biochemical engineering education and training over the past five decades. His mentees, including former students, staff, post-doctoral fellows, faculty, and visiting fellows, have played major roles in advancing biotechnology worldwide through their occupation of key positions in industry and academia. This endowment award is a tribute to his contributions and leadership in defining the field of biochemical engineering.
Through his career at MIT and his advisory roles to pharmaceutical, biochemical, and service industries, Professor Wang exemplified innovative problem solving through fundamental engineering principles, bridging innovative research and industrial commercialization through the hands of an engineer and the mind of an entrepreneur, extending research innovations to process technology.
This annual award recognizes individuals for their contributions to the field and to the practice of biochemical engineering through their position in industry or academia as exemplified by Professor Wang in his 50 years of contributions.
In appreciation of Professor Wang’s long commitment, dedication, and contribution to the Biochemical Technology (BIOT) division of American Chemical Society, the Division of Food, Pharmaceuticals and Bioengineering (Division 15) of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the Society for Biological Engineering (SBE), this award is administered by SBE and will be presented to the awardee in alternate years at the AIChE Annual Meetings (Fall) and at the ACS spring meeting. The endowment shall provide the monetary award to the selected awardee annually.
There are no restrictions on who may nominate individuals for this award and an announcement of solicitation will be made annually through portals of SBE, Division 15, and BIOT of the ACS. Nominations shall be submitted to the Nomination Committee (NC) by email at sbeawards@aiche.org. For more information, click here
Eligibility and nomination procedure:
In order to be considered for the award, the nominee must not have received an award from SBE (e.g., the James E. Bailey award or the June Wispelwey Bio Leadership Fellowship) in the four years preceding the award year.
The nomination documentation may consist of a nomination form, the nominee’s resume, a letter from the nomination committee, and may also include supporting letters. Individuals recommended by the NC along with documentation also will be submitted to the Selection Committee.
The Nomination Committee shall be composed of three past awardees (each serving a three year term) and shall look out for individuals who have made major contributions through research, education, or practice of biochemical engineering. The NC shall look especially at those from industry whose colleagues tend not to be familiar with the nomination process. The members of the nomination committee are to be nominated by SBE and approved by the chairs of Division 15 and BIOT.
Past winners:
2024 – Jonathan Dordick
2023 – Huimin Zhao
2022 – Karen McDonald
2021 – William Bentley
2020 – Konstantin Konstantinov
2019 – Douglas Clark
2018 – John G. Aunins
2017 – Michael J. Betenbaugh
2016 – Ann Lee
2015 – Wilfred Chen
2014 – Lynn Preston
2013 – Eleftherios Papoutsakis
2012 – Noubar Afeyan
2012 – James R Swartz