URI’s Levine receives Rising Star Award

MINDY LEVINE, an assistant chemistry professor at the University of Rhode Island, has won a Rising Star Award from the American Chemical Society. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
MINDY LEVINE, an assistant chemistry professor at the University of Rhode Island, has won a Rising Star Award from the American Chemical Society. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – An assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Rhode Island has won a Rising Star Award from the American Chemical Society.
Mindy Levine is one of 10 women across the country recognized by the nonprofit Women’s Chemists Committee for contributions to chemistry.

“The Rising Star Award is a tribute to both Mindy’s talent and hard work,” Bill Euler, chairman of the URI Chemistry Department, said in a statement. “She has an outstanding publication record, has been successful in obtaining grant funds, is a respected classroom teacher and is a role model for all young women who wish to pursue a career in a STEM field.”

Levine, of Sharon, Mass., specializes in synthetic organic chemistry, with a focus on how molecules communicate with each other when they are not attached. Her research can be used to develop tools for medical diagnostics and sensors for detecting toxicants in the environment, according to the university.

She previously received a $650,000 research grant from the National Science Foundation, as well as grants from the National Cancer Institute and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. She also supports outreach activities to educate high school girls about chemistry and careers in science.
During April vacation, Levine holds an annual chemistry camp for middle school girls, featuring sessions on the chemistry of bubbles and lipstick chromatography. High school girls also are encouraged to visit the URI campus to do chemistry experiments. She also conducts outreach at schools around URI as well as elementary schools in her hometown.

- Advertisement -

Levine received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia University and postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Four years ago, the Rising Star Award was established to help promote the retention of women in science. Winners are in the early stages of their careers in academia or industry.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award and am thankful to the chemistry department at URI for providing an excellent environment and the resources for success,” Levine said in a statement. “Unfortunately, women in STEM disciplines still face a variety of biases throughout their careers, which makes the work done by the Women’s Chemists Committee all the more important and significant. As a woman and chemist and the mother of a young daughter, I look forward to continuing to work with the Women’s Chemists Committee to encourage future generations of female scientists, and to continuing my important chemistry research at URI.”

Levine will receive the award in March at an American Chemical Society meeting in San Diego.

No posts to display