Beckman Institute faculty member Ioannis Chasiotis received the 2008 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers last week in a ceremony at the White House.

The award, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is the government’s highest honor for scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers.

Chasiotis is a faculty member in the Autonomous Materials Systems group at Beckman and an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois.

The honorees are chosen by a rigorous peer review process, and receive five-year grants through the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program. Chasiotis was honored last Friday by President Barack Obama at the White House along with the other award winners from around the country. Obama spoke earlier about their contributions. 

“These extraordinarily gifted young scientists and engineers represent the best in our country,” President Obama said when the award was announced in July. “With their talent, creativity, and dedication, I am confident that they will lead their fields in new breakthroughs and discoveries and help us use science and technology to lift up our nation and our world.”

For more on the award, click here.