Rigoberto "Gobet" Advincula, a Governor's Chair Professor jointly appointed at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the American Chemical Society's Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Division.
The honor recognizes chemists and engineers who have made significant, innovative contributions to applied chemistry or chemical engineering, according to the division.
The Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Division is the American Chemical Society's oldest technical division. Founded in 1908, the division promotes the translation of fundamental chemical science into practical products and processes while connecting industrial chemists, chemical engineers, academic researchers and national laboratories. The division established its Fellow program in 2007 to recognize researchers who have made major contributions to applied chemistry or chemical engineering while demonstrating outstanding professional service.
Advincula was recognized for research and scholarship that have advanced applied chemistry and chemical engineering while helping translate scientific discoveries into practical applications.
At ORNL's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, a DOE Office of Science user facility, Advincula leads the Macromolecular Nanomaterials Group. He is an internationally respected researcher in polymers and advanced materials and has contributed extensively through scholarly publications, editorial leadership and mentoring students and early-career scientists.
The division also named University of Washington Professor Larry R. Dalton as a 2026 Fellow for contributions to electro-optics, photonics, materials design and nanophotonics.
Advincula's work helps move materials discoveries from the laboratory into real-world applications, strengthening American innovation and industrial competitiveness.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science . — Scott Gibson