Young Scientist Award
2016-11-01
Writer(s): Steve Scherer
Dr. Darryl A. Boyd, a 2010 doctoral graduate of the Purdue Chemistry Department, was recently named the 2016 Lloyd N. Ferguson Young Scientist Award from the National Organization of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).
The Lloyd N. Ferguson Young Scientist Award is a national award given by NOBCChE that recognizes early career scientific achievements and STEM community outreach efforts. Dr. Boyd is being recognized for the research he has performed in developing unique sulfur-based polymers, and for his active involvement in engaging youths to pursue careers in science.
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Dr. Boyd obtained a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Michigan before entering graduate school at Purdue where he received a thesis M.S. degree in Biochemistry from Professor Christine Hrycyna’s lab, and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Professor Tong Ren’s lab.
While pursuing his degrees at Purdue, Dr. Boyd served as the President of the Purdue NOBCChE Chapter, and was responsible for organizing and establishing the 1st NOBCChE Research Symposium hosted by the Purdue Chemistry Department in 2009.
In 2011 he was awarded a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associateship from the National Academy of Sciences to conduct research at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC, where he was later hired as a Jerome and Isabella Karle Fellow.
He is currently serving as a Research Chemist in the Optical Sciences Division at NRL where his primary work focuses on the development of chalcogenide-based optical polymers. He will accept this award in November at the upcoming NOBCChE National Conference in Raleigh, NC.