Mietek Jaroniec, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State University, was recently awarded the Medal of Marie Sklodowska-Curie by the Polish Chemical Society for his scientific achievements.
The prestigious medal is awarded to outstanding chemists working permanently abroad for exceptional scientific achievements of international significance and for contributions to the community of Polish chemists. Jaroniec delivered an invited plenary lecture, “Nanoporous Carbon Materials: Newest Advances and Perspectives” at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Polish Chemical Society held in Poznan, Poland, where on the first day of this meeting he received the medal. 
One of the most highly cited chemists in the field of advanced materials, Jaroniec’s recent research is focused on the development of well-defined nanomaterials, especially carbons, for environmental, energy-related and biomedical applications. Activated carbon is widely used in industry and everyday life ranging from air and water purification, metal extraction to medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural and military applications. In August 2015, he published a review article on carbon spheres in Nature Materials with an impact factor of 36.5.
“I am deeply honored by this prestigious medal awarded by the Polish Chemical Society, which recognizes my research and service to the scientific community, as well as the accomplishments of my graduate students and co-workers,” Jaroniec says. “Receiving it provides additional motivation for future research activities. Having been born in Poland and working at the Marie Curie-Sklodowska University for many years, it is a great feeling to receive a medal named after Marie Curie, an outstanding Polish-born scientist who was awarded with two Nobel prizes.”
Before joining the faculty at Kent State in 1991, Jaroniec obtained his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry at the Marie Curie-Sklodowska University in Poland in 1972 and 1976 and a Doctor of Science degree in physical chemistry in 1979 before serving as a professor there in the Department of Theoretical Chemistry from 1972 to 1991.
Jaroniec has earned several honors and awards from all over the world, including the Distinguished Scholar Award (2002), Advisor Excellence Award (2007), College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teacher Award (2010) and the President’s Faculty Excellence Award (2016) at Kent State. He has served on several journal advisory and editorial boards and is a member of several scientific organizations including the American Chemical Society. He has edited several books and published more than 1,000 scientific articles and communications in international journals.
To see Jaroniec’s full profile and a list of his publications, visit www.kent.edu/chemistry/mietek-jaroniec and www.researcherid.com/rid/A-9733-2008.
For more information about Kent State’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, visit www.kent.edu/chemistry.