These awards recognize outstanding research by master’s students in the Applied Chemical Sciences and Technology (MSACST) program and carry a $500 prize. They were funded by the Lloyd E. and Florence M. West Fellowship in Chemistry which Dr. West and his wife Florence endowed to give back to the university where Dr. West cultivated the necessary tools for his distinguished career and rewarding life. Dr. West completed his Ph.D. in 1939 under the direction of Professor Rex Robinson, and it is in Professor Robinson's memory that the Wests dedicated their fellowship.
Lloyd E. and Florence M. West Prize for Best Thesis
Long H. Nguyen is a master’s student conducting research in theoretical and computational chemistry with Affiliate Professor Sotiris Xantheas. Long’s research centers on hydrogen-bonded water clusters, employing electronic structure theory and vibrational spectroscopy to investigate vibrational dynamics and many-body interactions. Through this work, Long seeks to elucidate how microscopic molecular interactions influence the properties of larger chemical systems. Long is honored to receive the Lloyd and Florence West Prize for Best Thesis and appreciates the support it offers as he begins the Ph.D. program in the Department of Chemistry in autumn 2026.
Lloyd E. And Florence M. West Prize for Excellence in Research
Sidhaesh A. Agarwal is a master’s student originally from Bengaluru, India. He studied chemistry at Reed College, where he built a strong foundation in organic synthesis and materials chemistry. He is currently a researcher in the group of Professor Cole DeForest (Chemical Engineering), working on the design and synthesis of polymer resins for ultra-high-resolution, bio-orthogonal 3D printing. He is most interested in exploring the intersection of synthetic chemistry and engineering-driven applications, with a focus on translating molecular design into functional materials for advanced biomedical and manufacturing technologies. He is motivated by applying chemical principles to solve challenges in emerging material systems.
Honorable Mention for Best Thesis
Jimin Jung
Honorable Mention for Excellence in Research
Celeste Castandeda-Lopez
Hannah Novak