University of Alberta chemistry professor Dr. Juli Gibbs has won the 2014 Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award. The Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award recognizes and supports outstanding researchers whose work benefits the learning environment of the department and whose research has potential to be significant to society at large.
Selected by a committee comprised of the deans of the School of Business, the faculties of Engineering and Science, and a representative from Suncor Energy Inc., Gibbs will receive funding from Suncor Energy Inc. to study the surface chemistry of oil sands mixtures with nonlinear spectroscopy.
Being in the spotlight isn't new for Gibbs. She was also named a Sloan Research Fellow last year alongside Dr. John P. Davis, a professor of physics at the University of Alberta. In 2012, she received a $100,000 grant from the Canadian Rising Stars in Global Health Grand Challenges program.
Gibbs came to the U of A in 2008 as an assistant professor in chemistry. Her research focuses on the interplay between understanding and controlling molecular recognition, research that has led to exciting discoveries in areas ranging from fundamental surface science to DNA detection.
*With files from the Faculty of Science and Office of the VP (Research)