Awards and Grants

Awards

10. College Scholar Award, University of Northern Colorado (2021).

9.  Outstanding Achievement in Sponsored Programs Award, University of Northern Colorado (2021).

8. Excellence in Scholarship Award from UNC's College of Natural and Health Sciences (2020).

7. Highly Cited Research in Journal of Molecular Catalysis. B, Enzymatic (2013, 85-86, 243) from Elsevier (2017).

6. Top Cited Articles Award for J. Mol. Catal. B: Enzymatic (2013, 85–86, 243) from Elsevier (2014).

5. Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award from Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation (2012).

4. Most Cited Paper 2009-2011 Award for Journal of Biotechnology (2009, 139, 47) from Elsevier (2012).

3. RSC Research Fund Award from Royal Society of Chemistry (2009).

2. Most Cited Paper 2006-2009 Award for Tetrahedron: Asymmetry (2006, 17, 377) from Elsevier (2009).

1. American Chemical Society PRF New Faculty Award (2007).

Research and Training Grants

13. NIH R15 grant (1R15GM143682-01, 2021-2024, PI): Enzymatic Synthesis of Sugar-Derived Biosurfactants Using Multifunctional Ionic Liquids.

12. NSF grant (CHE 1954120, 2020-2023, PI): "Water-Like" Ionic Liquids for Enzymatic Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation.

11. ACS-PRF grant (60077-ND4, 2019-2022, PI): Liquefying Coal via Enzymatic Depolymerization Using Non-Aqueous Task-Specific Ionic Solvents.

10. ACS-PRF grant (54875-UR9, 2015-2018, PI): Tailoring Ionic Liquids for Deep Desulfurization of Liquid Fuels by Oxidative Extraction.

9. Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2012-2018, PI): Accelerating enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass by ionic liquid pretreatment.

8. NIH MBRS-RISE (R25GM096956, 2012-2017, PI)

7. NIH NIBIB contract award (HHSN268201200011C, 2011-2016, co-PI)

6. NIH RIMI sub-award (5P20MD003941, 2010-2012, sub-project PI): Developing Novel Derivatives of Betulinic Acid for Fighting HIV.

5. Royal Society of Chemistry: Research Fund Award (2009, PI): Enzymatic Esterification of Amino Acids in Ionic Liquids without Derivatization.

4. ACS-PRF grant and supplement (46776-GB1, 2007-2009, PI): Effect of Ionic Liquid Properties on the Enzyme Stabilization under Microwave Radiation.

3. Department of Education (DOE) Title III Grant, CASTME Program, Undergraduate Research Training Project (2006, faculty investigator)

2. NSF HBCU-UP and NSF PSLSAMP Research Programs (2005-2010 Summers, faculty investigator)

1. NIH EARDA grant (2004-2005, faculty investigator) [No. 5 G11 HD 32861-07, and No. 5 G11 HD 32861-08]