Lilly Emerging Talent Award

Upper left to lower right: Hallee Boyd, Y. Emily Du, Karli Gaffrey, Golsa Gheibi, Pegah Honarmand, Virginia Jiang, Joyce Laboy Figueroa, Julianne Oshiro, Holly Weilbaker, and Kerui Xu

Eli Lilly and Company is acknowledged for its support of the WCC/Lilly Emerging Talent Award program.

The ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC) and Eli Lilly and Company sponsor a program to provide funding for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral chemists to travel to meetings to present the results of their research. Through this program, WCC and Eli Lilly and Company continue to increase the participation of individuals in the chemical sciences.

Awards are made on the basis of scientific merit and financial need. Funds may be applied only for registration, travel, and accommodations, and are restricted to travel to ACS Spring/Fall meetings. Grant funds are limited, but there are some funds designated for undergraduates.

In addition to financial support, the award provides networking opportunities for recipients who attend an ACS meeting. The WCC hosts a poster session for awardees at each meeting. Awardees are also invited to the WCC Luncheon where they receive recognition. The luncheon also provides a valuable networking opportunity as awardees sit at the head tables along with ACS governance and WCC members.

Fall 2026 Awardees

Hallee Boyd, Oregon State University/p>

Y. Emily Du, Princeton University

Karli Gaffrey, Colorado School of Mines

Golsa Gheibi, California Institute of Technology

Pegah Honarmand, University of California-Irvine

Virginia Jiang, Princeton University

Joyce Laboy Figueroa, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao

Julianne Oshiro, University of California-Los Angeles

Holly Weilbaker, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Kerui Xu, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

PAST WINNERS

Eligibility

Applications should be limited to one per research group. Awards will be given with preference to the following order:

Any applicant who will be making their first presentation (regardless of format) at an ACS or major meeting.
Graduate or postdoctoral applicants who have not presented at an ACS or major meeting since completing their undergraduate degree.

Only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible. Those who have received a prior award under this program are ineligible. The WCC Awards Team reviews applications and selects awardees.

How to Apply

The deadline for receipt of applications is:

December 15, 2026 for the ACS Spring 2027 Meeting (no later than 11:30 p.m. ET)

In the online application process, the applicant will be required to provide/upload the following:

A resume or C.V. (include permanent address).
A copy of their abstract submission which should include their abstract title, author(s), and text (the abstract submission confirmation will be required when funds are awarded).
A letter detailing the reasons why the applicant wants this award (both scientific and financial), and specifying whether the applicant has made a previous presentation at an ACS or major meeting.
A letter from the applicant’s advisor confirming their participation in the meeting at which the applicant will be making a presentation, commenting on their technical ability and potential, and listing any other travel support that would be available from the department or research grants.

A hard copy application form may also be requested:

Email: wcc@acs.org
American Chemical Society
ACS Women Chemists Committee – Hach, 419
1155 Sixteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036