2017 winners of James N. Pitts award

The 2017 winners of James N. Pitts award are Derek DuBois and Mary Villareal.  This award is given annually in honor of the late Jim Pitts, chemistry legend and husband and research partner of AirUCI co-Director Barbara Finlayson-Pitts.  Congratulations to both winners!

Derek followed a roundabout path to chemistry research, taking several years off from school in his 20s and working in various careers.  When he returned to UCI as a Chemistry major, he joined the research team of Prof. James Nowick whose group works to gain understanding of protein and peptide assembly.  His enthusiasm for research and his drive to succeed stood out among the applicants for the Pitts award.

Mary is the first in her family to pursue a college education and discovered her love for chemistry while exploring other career options, including nursing and biology.  She overcame a number of obstacles and persisted in her studies, often with very little support.  Her goal after graduation is to attend graduate school for an advanced degree with an eye toward developing natural medical products.