January 18, 2000
Contact: Nick Patterson
(205) 975-8858/[email protected]
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES UAB CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Imagine a full-color computer or television screen made of a paper-thin sheet of plastic, and you begin to grasp the work that won a UAB researcher a $370,000 Career Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Rigoberto Advincula, Ph.D., an assistant professor of chemistry in the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, recently won the award that recognizes both achievement and potential in a young researcher, and his institution.
"This is a nationally competitive award given to young investigators for them to pursue whatever they want," Advincula said.
"The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is proud to have Dr. Advincula receive this prestigious award," said James McClintock, Ph.D., dean of the school. "These NSF awards are highly competitive and recognize only the most outstanding young scientists which demonstrate great potential. The award is also a marvelous indication of the ability of our Department of Chemistry to attract and nurture top-notch young faculty."
Under NSF eligibility rules, UAB will match the award with $130,000, bringing the total amount available to Advincula and his research to $500,000. Advincula competed with other scientists and engineers from across the United States to win the grant award. All the competitors had to be within the first three years of their university appointments. Advincula, who earned his doctorate in 1994 at the University of Florida, was appointed an assistant professor at UAB in 1997.
Competitors for the award are chosen based on three things: a research proposal; an evaluation of the researcher's capabilities, including publications and the assessments of peers; and the researcher's commitment to educate new scientists. Advincula's research involves the development of ultrathin organic polymers -- plastics -- that will carry an electric current and generate strong light. It has applications in everything from consumer electronics -- including less-expensive, lightweight, flexible video display panels, and flat LCD screens -- to ultrathin polymer transistors and light-emitting diodes and laser generation and organic semiconductors.
The polymers Advincula is developing, and analyzing generate strong light at low voltage and can even be used in traffic signals. His research is being supported in part by Hewlett-Packard, which is incorporating ultrathin polymers in its consumer electronics.
Besides advancing ultrathin polymer research, Advincula's award recognizes his goal "as a mentor to educate a new generation of scientists." In his proposal to the NSF, he said his goal was to "create a program for training and educating young scientists with a unique philosophy in organic and polymer solid state materials. Advincula said young scientists will learn organic synthesis, fabrication of polymer film and devices, and surface analysis.
Advincula's award is the second NSF Career grant given to UAB. The first was awarded to former UAB chemist Steve Beale in 1996.
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