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White House honors U chemistry professor

November 1, 2000

For discovering uranium-dinitrogen, an MSU chemistry professor will be able to research for years to come without having to worry about soliciting grant funds.

Assistant Professor Aaron Odom was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers at the White House on Oct. 24.

He was honored for his discovery of uranium-dinitrogen complexes and theoretical studies aimed at understanding their electronic structure and bonding.

“There are two complexes, and we discovered one of them,” Odom said.

“It’s important for understanding how uranium reacts with gases in the atmosphere.”

Katharine Hunt, chairwoman of MSU’s Department of Chemistry, said the university’s faculty wins similar awards every year. But they do not often receive recognition from the White House.

“I was delighted,” Hunt said. “It’s a great way for Aaron to receive the recognition he deserves for his chemistry. Our young faculty wins significant awards on (a yearly) basis.”

The award was created in 1996 by President Clinton, who wanted to show the interest the Democratic administration has in producing outstanding scientists and engineers. Each award winner receives a discovery citation, a plaque and five years of research funding from the United States Department of Energy.

Every year, eight federal departments and agencies nominate the most meritorious young scientists and engineers who will help advance the science and technology that will benefit their agencies.

Odom said the award is well deserved for the university’s Chemistry Department.

“The nice thing about this is that it’s a payoff for all the money MSU puts into the Chemistry Department,” he said. “We have an excellent chemistry program.”

Odom was nominated by the Department of Energy and was awarded a similar award last year.

Jeff Sherwood, of the Department of Energy, said the award will provide stability for Odom’s research.

“He gets a commitment that the lab sponsoring him will continue to do so for five years,” Sherwood said.

And Hunt said she’s glad her colleague’s research will continue. She said the funds will give him more leverage in purchasing proper tools.

“This will let him buy the equipment he needs and support graduate students during research,” she said. “Close to 100 percent of our faculty

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