UTEP Professor Named American Chemical Society Fellow

Considered one of the leading physical-organic chemists in the world, UTEP chemistry professor Luis Echegoyen was named one of the 2001 American Chemical Society fellows for outstanding accomplishments in chemistry.

He is the first University of Texas at El Paso faculty member to earn that honor.

“It is a real honor to be in the company of so many talented and accomplished chemists who have made seminal contributions to the field,” said Echegoyen, who was director of the chemistry division of the National Science Foundation before going to UTEP in 2010.

According to a news release, Echegoyen, a society member since 1973, has focused his research on aspects of fullerenes, special spherical carbon molecules that resemble soccer balls with unique electronic properties. He said he wants to control the molecules’ electron-accepting abilities to make solar cells a more affordable, self-sustaining source of renewable energy.

“Dr. Echegoyen is widely recognized as a distinguished teacher-scholar and as a mentor to many other faculty on campus and throughout the world,” said Anny Morrobel-Sosa, Ph.D., dean of the College of Science at UTEP. “His worldwide network of colleagues provides a venue through which discoveries of science, cultural explorations, and cherished friendships are intertwined.”

Morrobel-Sosa said that while it’s a singular recognition, the honor also represents an acknowledgement of the growing reputation of UTEP’s faculty and the quality work they engage in together with university students.

The work of this year’s fellows from academia, industry and government was acknowledged during the announcement of the class Aug. 8 in Washington, D.C.

“The work they are doing will improve all of our lives as they unleash the power of chemistry to solve global challenges like providing clean water, sufficient food, new energy sources and cures for disease,” said society president Nancy B. Jackson, Ph.D., who oversees the nonprofit organization made up of more than 163,000 members.

The American Chemical Society will recognize the class of 2011 fellows at an induction ceremony during the group’s 242nd national meeting and exposition Monday in Denver.

To see a list of recipients in Chemical & Engineering News, click here.