The American Association for the Advancement of Science announced that Princeton Engieering faculty members Rodney Priestley and Z. Jason Ren are among the more than 400 scientists and engineers recognized this year as lifetime AAAS Fellows.
“This year’s AAAS Fellows have demonstrated research excellence, made notable contributions to advance science, and delivered important services to their communities,” Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals said of the March 26 announcement. “These Fellows and their accomplishments validate the importance of investing in science and technology for the benefit of all.”
Rodney Priestley
Priestley, the Pomeroy and Betty Perry Smith Professor in Engineering and dean of Princeton’s Graduate School, was recognized for his “distinguished contributions expanding the understanding of polymer and soft matter nanoscience, including materials development and characterization,” according to his citation.
“The thrill of this honor is joining the community of AAAS Fellows who share a belief in the value of science and discovery,” said Priestley, a professor of chemical and biological engineering. “I am delighted to represent the work of my lab, including the many undergraduate and graduate students and emerging scientists who drive our efforts forward.”
Priestley’s research group integrates physics, chemistry, soft matter science, materials processing and more to pursue new understanding and applications of polymers at the nanoscale. Throughout his career, Priestley has translated his research into practical applications. He holds more than a dozen patents and has launched several companies that draw upon his research, including Greenlynd, a technology company focused on sustainability solutions to improve the performance of materials.
His many awards include the American Physical Society’s Dillon Medal, the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, the Root 100 list of the most influential African Americans, the 2023 Carl S. Marvel Award for Creative Polymer Chemistry by the American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry, and a fellowship in the APS.
Z. Jason Ren
Ren, professor of civil and environmental engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, was elected for “pioneering contributions to water-energy-climate nexus research, advancing resource recovery and decarbonization science, and national and local leadership in advancing implementation of water technologies.”
At Princeton, Ren’s Water & Energy Technologies (WET) Lab integrates electrochemistry, microbiology and data-driven methods to understand the carbon and electron flows and to improve the design, operation and monitoring of complex engineering systems.
In addition to academic research, Ren and his students translate innovations beyond the laboratory. Ren has co-founded two companies, including Princeton Critical Minerals, which is advancing Princeton-developed technologies for direct lithium extraction. PCM’s systems are designed to support more selective recovery of minerals from brine and produced water while reducing energy use and chemical inputs. The company recently received an ARPA-E award from the federal government and delivered its first products to a major mining client.
His previous honors include elections as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and of the International Water Association, as well as the Paul L. Busch Award from the Water Research Foundation, the AEESP Frontier in Research Award, and the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
