Rigoberto Advincula, the UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair of Advanced and Nanostructured Materials, was named the winner of the 2026 George Stafford Whitby Award for Distinguished Teaching and Research.

The award, presented by the American Chemical Society, Rubber Division, honors teachers and academic scientists for distinguished, innovative, and inspirational teaching and research in chemistry, material or polymer science.

“I am honored to receive this award, and on behalf of my group and past group members too, we are thrilled about it,” said Advincula, a joint professor in UT’s Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “The award is special in many ways because it is a research and teaching award. It is a core mission for UT and an emphasis on mentoring at ORNL.”

The award is named for George S. Whitby, head of the rubber laboratory at the University of Akron who, for years, was the only one who taught rubber chemistry in the United States.

The award consists of $3,000, an engraved plaque, and $500 for travel expenses to the awards ceremony meeting, which will take place during the ANS Global Polymer Summit in September.

Contact

Rhiannon Potkey (rpotkey@utk.edu)