Dr. Michelle Brann, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University with Professor Karin Öberg, has been selected by the American Chemical Society as the 2025 recipient of the ACS Astrochemistry Dissertation Award. This honor recognizes the significant contributions she made during her doctoral studies at the University of Chicago under the guidance of Professor Steven J. Sibener.
Dr. Brann's award-winning dissertation, "Condensed Phase Adsorption and Reactivity: Extraterrestrial Ices, Isotope Enrichment, Olefin Oxidation, and Nerve Agent Simulants," centered on the chemistry and isotopic abundance effects in low-temperature ices and explored fundamental processes relevant to astrochemical environments. This doctoral research has already resulted in notable publications in the Journal of Physical Chemistry A and Journal of Physical Chemistry C.
The recognition of Dr. Brann, along with current University of Chicago student Joshua Wagner's recent AVS award, highlights the consistent excellence of the Sibener Group at the University of Chicago.