Published: Oct. 31, 2019

Using lasers, mechanical engineer Greg Rieker can understand exactly how molecules react during the combustion process. When a laser is projected across a combustion environment, certain wavelengths are absorbed depending on which molecules are present at a given time.

For his excellence in combustion science, he was awarded the Hiroshi Tsuji Early Career Researcher Award in April. It’s his second top international award in the past year.

“What makes these awards special is that I couldn’t have done it anywhere else but Ƶ Boulder,” Rieker said. “The laser technology we’ve translated into combustion and other practical applications was first demonstrated on campus by Nobel laureate professor John Hall.”

Select national recognitions

Kristi Anseth
Chemical and Biological Engineering
National Academy of Arts and Sciences

Penina Axelrad 
Smead Aerospace
National Academy of Engineering

Taylor Barton
Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering
National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Angela Bielefeldt
Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
American Society for Engineering Education Fellow

John Falconer
Chemical and Biological Engineering
American Society for Engineering Education Fellow

Jerome Fox
Chemical and Biological Engineering
U.S. Army Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

Peter Hamlington
Mechanical Engineering
National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Tomako Matsuo
Smead Aerospace
National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Rebecca Morrison
Computer Science
Johnson & Johnson Women in STEM2D Scholars Award

Hanspeter Schaub
Smead Aerospace
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Fellow

Tam Vu
Computer Science
National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Al Weimer
Chemical and Biological Engineering
National Academy of Inventors

Campus and college recognitions

Angela Bielefeldt
Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Ƶ Boulder President’s Teaching Scholar

John Mah
Smead Aerospace
John & Mercedes Peebles Innovation in Education
Marinus Smith Award

Shelly Miller
Mechanical Engineering
Campus Faculty Director for Professional Development

Levi Perigo
Technology, Cybersecurity and Policy
Marinus Smith Award
CEAS Outstanding Faculty Advisor

Deb Renshaw
Chemical and Biological Engineering
CEAS Outstanding Undergraduate Staff Advisor

Kendra Thibeault
Engineering Management Program
CEAS Outstanding Graduate Staff Advisor

BOLD Faculty Fellows

Daniel Appelo
Applied Mathematics

Virginia Ferguson
Mechanical Engineering

Shaun Kane
Computer Science

Jana Milford
Environmental Engineering