Chemistry Professor Receives Prestigious Grant for Education and Research

Assistant chemistry professor Leslie Hamachi has received the prestigious 2024 Cottrell Scholar Award, joining a select group of 19 early-career faculty in chemistry, physics and astronomy from the U.S. and Canada. 

Each Cottrell awardee receives $120,000, which covers three years of funding toward research and education-based initiatives in their respective programs.

Hamachi’s work includes developing a new course, Foundations of Macromolecular Chemistry, in the chemistry curriculum, with assessment of current student knowledge.

Hamachi also leads a team of undergraduates that’s working with Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing Lab, a program where students from local K-12 schools visit the university campus to experience standards-based, real-world demonstrations and activities. Hamachi's team will conduct lab activities related to polymer recycling and sustainability.  

“This is quite an honor, and I’m really excited to implement these learning concepts and help grow knowledge in polymer-based education,” Hamachi said. “Cal Poly undergrads will have a very large impact with guided educational objectives. We’ll be able to share fundamental scientific knowledge through outreach that will be new to Cal Poly and local students.”