Graduate Student Danielle Chirdon Wins Carnegie Science Award
By Jocelyn Duffy
PITTSBURGH- The Carnegie Science Center has announced that Danielle Chirdon, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry, has been awarded Carnegie Science Awards. Chirdon will receive the University/Post-Secondary Student Award at a banquet on May 8.
Chirdon, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and a Department of Energy Fellow, was recognized for her research in inorganic chemistry and her outreach work with K-12 students. In the lab of Chemistry Professor Stefan Bernhard, Chirdon conducts research on organic solar cells, the photogeneration of hydrogen and rechargeable flow batteries. She has co-authored 10 scientific papers, including one in the journal Inorganic Chemistry, the premier periodical in her field.
Chirdon founded and is co-president of Future Leaders in Science, an organization that provides outreach opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students in Carnegie Mellon's Mellon College of Science. Future Leaders in Science helps to prepare Carnegie Mellon students for their future careers by developing their leadership and communication skills and their commitment to service. The group also gives back to the community through programs that by engaging K-12 students in STEM activities. Chirdon is also an active participant in DNAZone, the outreach program of Carnegie Mellon's Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology
Five Carnegie Mellon faculty members were named recipients of Carnegie Science Awards this year. David Brumley, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and technical director of CyLab, won the University/Post-Secondary Educator Award; Shirley Ho, assistant professor of physics, won the Emerging Female Scientist Award; and Jeanne VanBriesen, the Duquesne Light Company Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, won the Environmental Award. Two professors received awards through their spin-off companies: Luis von Ahn, associate professor of computer science, won the Information Technology Award for his work with Duolingo; and Jesse Schell, Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Entertainment Technology at the Entertainment Technology Center, won the Entrepreneur Award for his work with Schell Games.
The Carnegie Science Awards recognize and promote outstanding science and technology achievements in western Pennsylvania. Since 1997, they have honored the accomplishments of more than 400 individuals and organizations whose contributions in the fields of science, technology and education have impacted our region's industrial, academic and environmental vitality.