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Brent Sumerlin, Ph.D., the George B. Butler Professor of Chemistry, has been named a Fellow of the American Chemical Society. A prestigious honor bestowed on those pushing the field forward through research and education, the ACS is one of the country’s leading chemistry organizations.

“I was incredibly surprised,” Sumerlin explained, “and after looking through the names of the others who were honored this year, I was more than a little humbled!”

One of UF’s most prolific chemists, Sumerlin’s main line of work is polymer research. Polymeric materials, which are substances made up of large molecules known as macromolecules, are incredibly versatile, ranging from uses as commodity plastics to materials capable to react to stimuli by changing their shape. Sumerlin hopes that his work unlocks new uses for them, like drug delivery or the creation of self-healing materials.

Becoming a fellow of the American Chemical Society is no easy feat. In order to be considered, potential fellows must be endorsed by three other experts in their field selected from a variety of institutions. Once selected, fellows gain access to the society’s vast network of information, experts and professional support. The fellowship also comes with increased visibility and a renewed sense of responsibility for Sumerlin as he helps advance the mission of the ACS.

“I need to be prepared to communicate chemistry’s role in addressing global challenges and to advocate for science policy that helps make this possible,” said Sumerlin.

Read more about Brent Sumerlin and his work with polymers here.