The 2025 award season highlights the innovation and dedication that define Canada’s chemical sciences community. This year’s recipients of the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) and Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (CSChE) awards demonstrate how research at every career stage contributes to solving today’s most pressing challenges. Among them, Dr. Amar Mohanty and Julia Grenke are recognized for their pioneering work in sustainable materials and cryogenic science, two fields where Canadian researchers continue to make a global impact.
Dr. Amar Mohanty: Leading the Future of Sustainable Materials
Recipient of the CIC Macromolecular Science and Engineering Award, Dr. Amar Mohanty is a Professor and Distinguished Research Excellence Chair in Sustainable Materials and Director of the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre at the University of Guelph. A world-renowned leader in biobased and biodegradable polymer research, Dr. Mohanty has devoted his career to developing materials derived from renewable, recycled, and waste resources. His work has advanced the circular bioeconomy by transforming biomass and industrial co-products into high-performance materials that reduce environmental impact.
His research achievements include the development of the world’s first certified 100 percent compostable single-use coffee pod and the creation of biocarbon composites used by Ford in the headlamp housing of the Lincoln Continental. With over 68,000 citations and an h-index of 121, Dr. Mohanty’s influence extends across academia and industry, shaping the global conversation around sustainable materials and green innovation.
“This award is a reflection of our collective efforts toward building a sustainable materials future,” said Dr. Mohanty. “The transition to biobased and circular solutions is not only possible—it’s happening here in Canada.”
Julia Grenke: Advancing Cryopreservation Science Through Isochoric Research
Recipient of the CSChE Best Master’s Thesis Award, Julia Grenke completed her interdisciplinary master’s degree through the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. Her thesis research explored isochoric, or constant-volume, cryopreservation—an emerging field that could transform how biological materials are preserved. Grenke developed analytical equations to predict the behavior of multicomponent solutions during isochoric cooling, providing new insights into low-temperature and high-pressure thermodynamics.
Her findings, published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B, are already influencing how researchers approach cryopreservation design. She has presented her work at national and international conferences, including CSChE 2023 in Calgary, CRYO 2024 in Washington, D.C., and CSChE 2025 in Montreal, where she delivered her award lecture.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Janet A.W. Elliott, for nominating me and supporting this research,” Grenke said.
Recognizing the Impact of Canadian Chemical Scientists
The achievements of Dr. Mohanty and Grenke showcase the diversity and depth of innovation within Canada’s chemical sciences community. From advancing sustainable materials to exploring the physics of cryogenic systems, their work reflects how curiosity-driven research can lead to real-world impact.
Call for Nominations: 2027 Awards
Do you know someone whose work is shaping the future of chemical engineering? Nominate yourself or a colleague by Dec. 1, 2026, for the 2027 awards cycle. Members are encouraged to recognize their peers by submitting candidates who demonstrate leadership, creativity, and lasting impact in the field.