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Robert Madix

IMASC Co-Deputy Director Robert Madix Receives 2022 AVS Award

October 12, 2022

IMASC Co-Deputy Director Prof. Robert Madix has been selected as the 2022  recipient of the AVS Gaede-Langmuir Award. Madix is recognized for " ground-breaking research that advanced the development of surface science for understanding complex surface reactions and their relationship to heterogeneous catalysis.”

The Gaede-Langmuir Award ecognizes outstanding discoveries and inventions in the fields of interest to AVS.  The award...

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Schematic of decoding reactive structures

Decoding Reactive Structures

February 11, 2022

Palladium atoms in dilute Pd-in-Au alloys may form beautiful patterns in TEM images that are as mesmerizing as those colorful dots in the paintings of Georges Seurat. They are also excellent catalysts - but how to identify their most active ensembles in reaction conditions has been a very challenging task, not only because of the small size of the ensembles that may contain 1, 2 or 3 Pd atoms surrounded by Au atoms, but also because of their...

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NAE Logo

Madix elected to National Academy of Engineering

February 9, 2022

IMASC co-Deputy Director Bob Madix was elected to the National Academy of Engineering on Feb 9, 2022. His election recognizes his work on quantitative modeling of catalytic processes using input from fundamental surface science methods.

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or...

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Jennifer Lee

IMASC Post-doc Jennifer Lee profiled by HWIC

October 25, 2021
IMASC Post-doc Jennifer Lee (Friend lab, Harvard) was profiled today by Harvard Women in Chemistry (HWIC), an organization dedicated to addressing issues concerning the representation and quality of life of women in STEM fields.  As a board member of HWIC, Dr. Lee has instituted several new resources for the Harvard community, including professional development workshops and regular women-centered events.... Read more about IMASC Post-doc Jennifer Lee profiled by HWIC
Pd in Au ensemble

The Pd ensemble size in a Pd-Au catalyst plays a critical role in hydrogen dissociation

July 13, 2021

Selective hydrogenation—adding “just enough” hydrogen—is critical for a wide range of industrial processes including the manufacturing of polymers and pharmaceuticals. A catalyst can facilitate the supply of hydrogen atoms to a reaction by splitting hydrogen molecules and facilitating migration along the catalyst surface. But what determines how good a catalyst is at dissociating hydrogen? Researchers from Harvard University and UCLA joined forces to address this question, and found something surprising on the way, as described in a recent...

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Chris O'Connor

AVS Graduate Research Award for Chris O'Connor

October 29, 2020
Recent IMASC graduate Chris O'Connor has been recognized with a Graduate Research Award by AVS. The Graduate Research Awards were established in 1984 to recognize and encourage excellence in graduate studies in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. Each consists of a cash award, a certificate, and reimbursed travel support to attend the International Symposium. Dr. O... Read more about AVS Graduate Research Award for Chris O'Connor
Art_representing_Lim_JACS_Cover

JACS features IMASC work on cover

October 5, 2020
IMASC researchers have demonstrated a method to map complex surface dynamics at atomic resolution on a timescale that would have been unthinkable before. The paper, which is featured on the cover of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, describes a method to simulate atomic movements on the surface of catalysts quickly and accurately, a critical step towards engineering better and more... Read more about JACS features IMASC work on cover