The Coblentz Society has for many years encouraged young scientists to pursue studies in spectroscopy by seeking nominations of outstanding students for the Coblentz Student Awards. The awardees receive a copy of the Society's Desk Book, a certificate, and a year's membership in the Society. Their names and the names of their faculty advisors will appear in the Society's Newsletter (published in Applied Spectroscopy and available from the Coblentz Society and SAS websites). All awardees who attend the SciX conference will receive their award in person at a presentation during the poster session on Sunday evening by then Coblentz Society's president. Those students who do not attend the SciX conference will receive their award and the Society's Desk Book by mail. 

    The three leading graduate students selected by the Coblentz Award committee will also qualify for consideration for the William G. Fateley student award that includes a presentation by the winner at the SciX conference (20 minute oral presentation), a plaque, and a prize of $1000. No separate nomination for the Fateley award is required.

    The nominations window for Coblentz Student Awards is open November 1, 2013 – February 1, 2014.  Winners will be announced in February 2014. 

    Nominations by e-mail are preferred and may be sent to the Chair of the Coblentz Student Affairs Committee, Prof. Rohit Bhargava, at rxb@illinois.edu.  Graduate or undergraduate students who have shown excellence in vibrational spectroscopy research and/or coursework including vibrational spectroscopy may be nominated. The nominator must be a member of the Coblentz Society (to become a member contact Mark Druy at druy@psicorp.com or complete the online membership application).  

Requirements for a complete nomination:

1. Curriculum Vita for the nominee. These should include contact information (e-mail, telephone and mailing address) for the student that will be valid through July 2014. 
2. A biographical statement suitable for including in an announcement of the award, using a format similar to that used for the FACSS Student Award 
3. 1 letter of nomination from an advisor or research director of the student 
4. 1 additional letter of recommendation 
5. Abstract for a poster or oral presentation that might be presented at SciX 2014 presented by FACSS. 

    In 2013 all awardees were featured by having a photograph and a short bio in the SciX 2013 Final program distributed at Milwaukee. All awardees who attend SciX 2013 presented by FACSS in Milwaukee were acknowledged in person at a presentation during the poster session on Sunday evening by the Coblentz Society president – Jim Rydzak.

Past Awardees (awardee bios)

2010 Coblentz Student Awardees

• Ali Eftekhari-Bafrooei, Temple University, Ph.D. 2010, Professor Eric Borguet
• Bryon Herbert, Univ. Delaware, Ph.D. expected 2011-2002, Professor Karl S. Booksh
• Ram Bhatta, Univ. Akron, Ph.D. expected 2012-1023, Professor David Perry
• Yuliya Luzinova, Georgia Tech, Ph.D. expected 2010, Professor Boris Mizaikoff
• Hajime Okajima, Univ. of Tokyo, Ph.D. expected 2010, Professor Hiro-o Hamaguchi
• Praveenkumar Boopalachandran, Texas A&M, Ph.D. expected 2010, Professor Jaan Laane

2009 Coblentz Student Awardees

• Christopher J. Addison, Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Professor Michael Blades
• Sudhir Dahal, Department of Chemistry, Towson University, Professor Boon Loo
• Arindam Ganguly, Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri - Kansas City, Professor James R. Durig
• Rosina A. Lombardi, Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Professor Laurence A. Nafie
• Kyle C. Bantz, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Professor Christy L. Haynes
• Allen M. Ricks, Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Professor Michael A. Duncan
• Sean T. Roberts, Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor Andrei Tokmakoff
• Bhavya Sharma, Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Professor Sanford A. Asher
• Christina R. Young, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Professor Boris Mizaikoff