Melissa Gordon ‘11, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, was awarded the Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award for her polymer research in November, as one of eight professors nationally to be honored in the 2025 cycle.
“I was very ecstatic,” said Gordon, recounting the moment she saw the word “congratulations” in an email announcement from the organization. She joins a small group of Lafayette College professors, including chemistry professor Michael Bertucci in 2023, as a recipient of the $75,000 grant.
The award, founded in 1970, supports professor research and education in chemical sciences. The $75,000 figure will cover research expenses for Gordon and the students working in her lab, according to Dean of Engineering Jenn Rossmann.
“In my application, I spoke to the eight years I’ve been here and talked about various different projects that have spanned our work on stimuli-responsive and bio-based polymers that we’ve developed,” explained Gordon, who applied for the grant over the summer and teaches engineering material classes this semester.
“Her devotion to research, in addition to her teaching, that’s what this award is all about,” said Lindsay Soh, a past recipient of the award and chair of the chemical engineering department.
Gordon’s research, which she characterized as “interdisciplinary,” primarily focuses on designing new methods for making synthetic polymers — such as plastics — more sustainable. The polymers are still being researched, but could potentially replace commercial polyesters as a sustainable alternative, according to Bella Harrill ‘26, one of Gordon’s research students.
Harrill, in an email, explained that the polymers have a “minimal negative environmental impact” because the polymers are degraded into feedstocks, or raw materials used to make new products, when they are disposed of. She called Gordon “very supportive” and “a great mentor throughout my college career.”
Gordon’s research on polymers began when she was a graduate student. She earned her doctorate from the University of Delaware, six years after graduating from Lafayette, and received multiple National Science Foundation grants as both a recent alum of Lafayette and as a professor.
“It’s really showing the merit of the quality of people that we have here,” Soh said.
Clara Witmer ’27 contributed reporting.