Amol Pophali, a doctoral candidate at Stony Brook University's Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, is set to receive the Richard J. Kokes Award from the North American Catalysis Society (NACS). The award will be presented during NACS's 29th meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 8-13. This recognition highlights significant doctoral research contributions in catalysis.
Pophali conducts research at Stony Brook’s Energy and Environmental Catalysis Laboratory, focusing on novel catalyst preparation methodologies and characterization studies. His work includes examining CO2 and CO conversions for sustainability and exploring structure-activity relations using spectroscopic techniques. Additionally, he collaborates with advanced facilities at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Mentored by Professor Taejin Kim, Pophali will present his findings at the conference with a talk titled ‘Development of supported metal oxide catalysts (MOx/CeO2) by novel one-pot chemical vapor deposition technique: structure and reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS) study.’ “It is a great honor to be the recipient of the well-known Richard J. Kokes Award," said Pophali. He aims to educate attendees on current requirements in heterogeneous catalysis.
Professor Kim praised Pophali’s work, noting his success in discovering alternatives for conventional catalyst development that are cost-effective. "He was able to optimize a catalyst for hydrogenation reaction that contributes to effectively utilizing CO2," said Kim.
Kim highlighted Pophali's comprehensive research covering critical aspects of heterogeneous catalysis and his role as a mentor to peers and students. "During his doctoral research until now, Amol has also contributed toward energy and electrocatalysis," added Kim.
Dilip Gersappe, chair of Stony Brook's Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, expressed pride in Pophali’s achievement: “Amol’s work not only advances the scientific understanding of catalyst design but also contributes meaningfully to cleaner technologies.”
Pophali views the conference as an opportunity for building collaborations with academia and industry. He continues researching synthesis methodologies optimization, new catalyst materials development, green initiatives advancement, theoretical calculations, and understanding catalyst structures.
The Kokes Award is sponsored by NACS to encourage student participation in biennial meetings.