Assistant Professor Jessica Lamb recognized with awards from American Chemical Society and Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (05/29/2026) — McKnight Land-Grant Professor Jessica Lamb has recently received two honors recognizing the promising research program built by her group and her commitment to excellence in teaching. Lamb was awarded both the Early Investigator Award from the American Chemical Society Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (ACS PMSE) and the 2026 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award in April 2026.
Lamb’s research explores the intersection of organic chemistry, catalysis, and polymer chemistry, applying innovative approaches to polymer synthesis. Her group’s current projects include leveraging strong dipoles of polymers containing polar heterocycles; developing of N-heterocyclic carbene-carbodiimide adducts for catalysis and energy applications; and mediating disparate polymerization mechanisms for novel block copolymers. This pioneering research aims to expand possibilities for advanced materials design, establish circular lifecycles for polymers and catalysts, and address critical energy challenges.
Outside of the lab, Lamb serves as the faculty advisor for the ACS POLY/PMSE Student Chapter and is a faculty presenter at the annual Energy & U outreach show. She also serves the broader chemistry community as the Vice Chair of the Midwest Chapter of Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry, an affinity group that aims to empower and support women to enter and lead successful careers in the field of Organic Chemistry.
Lamb joined the Department of Chemistry faculty in 2020. Over the past six years, she has built a dynamic research group currently made up of nine graduate students and one undergraduate. Lamb has been previously recognized for her work with the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship (2025), the AAAS Marion Milligan Mason Award (2025), the 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2022), and the American Chemical Society Division of Professional Relations Leadership Development Award (2021). She was also selected as one of the American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Academic Young Investigators in 2024.
About the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
From the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation website
The award honors early-career faculty in the chemical sciences who have created an outstanding independent body of scholarship and are deeply committed to education with undergraduates. Each Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar receives an unrestricted research grant of $100,000.
About the ACS PMSE Early Investigator Award
The PMSE Early Investigators Award Committee selected twenty four members, consisting of professors, government researchers, and industry scientists across the field of polymer science. A symposium highlighting their work will be held at the 2026 Fall ACS National Meeting.
Categories: