Students, faculty, and alumni were recently honored at the 2026 Department of Materials Science and Engineering Awards Banquet on April 15 at the UT Conference Center.  

MSE’s 2026 Awards 

MSE Department Service Award

Bernadette  Cladek,  Manager of MSE Labs & Safety Officer : For exceptional dedication to maintaining safe, efficient, and high-quality laboratory operations, while actively supporting outreach and recruiting efforts that strengthen the department’s visibility and attract outstanding students and collaborators, enabling MSE faculty and students to excel in both education and research.

Outstanding Junior Award

William (Luke) Wathen: For achieving the highest GPA among junior students and demonstrating exceptional academic excellence.  

Outstanding Senior Award

Jocelyn Hess: For earning the highest GPA among senior students and exemplifying outstanding academic achievement.  

Undergraduate Student Award for Excellence in Service  

Will Locke: For outstanding service as an MSE ambassador, demonstrating initiative, leadership in outreach activities, and exceptional commitment to engaging prospective students.

Grace Chrisman: For dedicated service and leadership in Materials Advantage and MSE outreach, including organizing events, developing communications, and supporting student engagement initiatives.  

Roberto S. Benson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research

Megan Gillespie: For outstanding research excellence, including designing and executing impactful projects at the Scintillation Materials Research Center, earning multiple national awards, and contributing as a co-author on peer-reviewed publications. 

Callie Jee: For exceptional research accomplishments spanning computational and experimental work, culminating in award-winning presentations and innovative contributions to sustainable materials. 

Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dylan Windsor: For exceptional dedication to student learning and outstanding ability to translate complex concepts in kinetics and transport into clear, accessible instruction.

Graduate Student Award for Outstanding Service

Hugh Shortt: For outstanding dedication to service, including mentoring students, advancing departmental outreach and recruiting efforts, and building impactful collaborations that elevate the MSE community. 

Joseph E. Spruiell Award for Excellence in  Graduate  Research

Lia Amalia: For exceptional research contributions, including lead-author publications in high-impact journals and groundbreaking work on deformation mechanisms in high-entropy alloys.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

Gerd Duscher, Professor: For his exceptional dedication to teaching excellence and transformative mentorship across all levels, from high school students to undergraduate and graduate researchers. His innovative integration of advanced microscopy with artificial intelligence and automation has created a unique, hands-on learning environment that equips students with cutting-edge skills while inspiring the next generation of materials scientists and engineers.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Service

Haixuan  Xu, Professor: For his exceptional service to the department, particularly his impactful leadership as Chair of the Graduate Curriculum and Student Success Committee, where he has played a central role in strengthening graduate education and student outcomes. He has also provided outstanding leadership in chairing a highly successful faculty search, contributing significantly to the strategic growth and excellence of the department. His sustained commitment to academic leadership, faculty governance, and student success exemplifies the highest standards of service within MSE. 

Faculty Award for Excellence in Research

Dustin Gilmer, Assistant Professor:  For his outstanding and rapidly growing research program in advanced materials and additive manufacturing, marked by impactful publications, multiple patents, and significant success in securing external funding from federal agencies. His work at the intersection of processing, materials design, and manufacturing innovation has established him as a rising leader in the field, with strong collaborations spanning UT Space Institute and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

Alumni Award

Marybeth Parker (BS, ’11): For outstanding contributions to corrosion science and engineering, and for advancing the performance and sustainability of critical naval systems through her work at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Marybeth Parker exemplifies the excellence and impact of MSE alumni with national recognition, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.