Dr. Vilas Pol, Associate Professor in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University, received the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Salute to Excellence award at the ACS Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting (MARM) on May 30, 2019. Salutes to Excellence is an ACS recognition that underscores outstanding accomplishments, achievements, or service for individuals who have made a positive impact on everyday life.

Purdue University ranked 12th in the world among universities granted U.S. utility patents in 2018, matching its best finish in the annual rankings put out by the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Purdue is among only a dozen U.S. universities to be rated in the top 20 in each of the past five years and one of only a few in the top 20 without a medical school. The rankings are based on data obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Dr. Brett Savoie, Assistant Professor in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, has been selected to receive the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. He will receive a one-year grant from ORAU to be matched by Purdue University. Dr. Savoie was one of only thirty-six faculty selected to receive the award, from almost 170 applicants nationwide.

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering graduate student and CISTAR Fellow Nicole LiBretto was presented with the 2019 CISTAR Mentor Award for her excellence as role model to Research Experience Undergraduate (REU) students, Research Experience for Teachers (RET) and Young Scholar high school students. LiBretto received the award from Dr. Michael Harris, CISTAR Workforce Development Director, at the 2019 CISTAR Annual Meeting held on May 20-25 at Purdue University.

Brightlamp Inc., co-founded by Davidson School of Chemical Engineering alumnus Kurtis Sluss (BSChE '16), is one of three startups based on Purdue University technologies slated to receive investments totaling up to $750,000 in matching funds from Purdue Research Foundation's Foundry Investment Fund to help advance them to commercial viability. Brightlamp was co-founded by Sluss and Micheal Heims, and has launched a patented innovative technology to measure pupillary light response using a mobile device. The application, called Reflex, allows health care professionals to quickly record data that can be used to objectively determine if a person has sustained any neurological disturbance, including concussion.