Chemist Joseph DeSimone is the recipient of the 2014 Industrial Research Institute (IRI) Medal.
The IRI is an association that brings together leading practitioners in technological innovation and R&D management to seek, share, learn and create best practices.
Each year the IRI recognizes the invaluable contribution of individual innovators to the advancement of science, industry and society with its presentation of the IRI Medal.
DeSimone is the Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University and of Chemistry at UNC.
DeSimone was honored for the commercialization of scientific innovations in areas ranging from plastics manufacturing to nanomedicine which demonstrate significant economic, environmental and societal impact.
“A prolific inventor and innovator, Dr. DeSimone’s work sets a high standard for scientific excellence,” said IRI President Ed Bernstein, “We are proud to honor him for his many achievements and ongoing contributions to industry.”
DeSimone is a polymer chemist who has aided breakthroughs in fluoropolymer synthesis, colloid science, nano-biomaterials, green chemistry and most recently 3D printing. He holds 140 patents, with more than 80 patents pending, and has published over 300 scientific articles. He received a B.S. in chemistry from Ursinus College in 1986 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Virginia Tech in 1990.
For more information, visit http://www.iriweb.org.
