Assistant Professor Joel Kaar received a prestigious NSF CAREER Award for his proposal, Rational Engineering of an Ionic Liquid Compatible Cellulase Cocktail.
Kaar’s research focuses on understanding the fundamental link between protein structure, activity, and molecular environment, with a goal of designing rational strategies for incorporating proteins into materials and, more broadly, using proteins in new ways.
Kaar was one of seven winners within CU’s College of Engineering and Applied Science.
“This shows a very high level of accomplishment from our junior faculty, as well as excellent choices in our hiring decisions,” said Dean Robert H. Davis. “The external recognition from the NSF and the review panel further confirms the high quality of our engineering program here at CU-Boulder.”
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.