Chemical engineering professor honored for energy innovation

A man with glasses wearing a white shirt and red tie sits in an empty lecture hall. — Dr. Abdoulaye Djire

Credit: Courtesy of David Kumar Yesudoss.

Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) recently named Dr. Abdoulaye Djire, professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, as a 2026 Talented 12. The recognition acknowledges young scientists whose research is addressing some of the world’s most pressing demands.

“This recognition is significant because it comes from one of the most respected organizations in the chemical sciences and shines a spotlight on research that has the potential to address major societal challenges,” Djire said. “It validates years of hard work, creativity and perseverance from my research group and collaborators.”

Being recognized as one of C&EN’s Talented 12 spotlights Djire’s broader impact on the work of emerging areas such as nitride MXenes — or MNenes — and sustainable nitrogen chemistry.

Overall, Djire’s work seeks to address pressing challenges related to energy, food security and environmental sustainability with a focus on developing advanced materials and electrochemical technologies for chemical manufacturing.

Djire believes the increased visibility will create new opportunities for collaboration and expanded interest from students and researchers.

“It has helped showcase the potential of our discoveries to a broader audience and opened doors for new partnerships in real-world applications,” Djire said. “These recognitions are encouraging and motivating, but they also serve as reminders that there is still much work to be done.”

Djire was recently named a Sloan Research Fellow for similar research with a broader view of MNenes and was also awarded the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. Djire also earned the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, a national recognition that honors both research and teaching.

With each recognition, different aspects of his professional journey are highlighted. While some awards acknowledge research innovation and scientific discovery, others recognize mentorship and teaching. However, he believes they all reinforce the idea that excellence in academia involves more than conducting impactful research.

“Scientific discovery is a team effort, and these recognitions reflect the dedication and creativity of many people,” Djire said. “Looking ahead, I remain committed to developing transformative technologies that address global challenges while inspiring and training the next generation of scientists and engineers.”