Charles D. Scott Award

Deadline Passed

The Charles D. Scott Award is presented each year at the Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels and Chemicals. The nominees must have made one or more outstanding research contributions in biotechnology for the production of fuels and chemicals. These contributions should be of exceptional merit, reflecting independence of thought and originality that adds appreciably to scientific knowledge. Activities such as journal editing, organizing and chairing conferences, and serving scientific societies in official capacities may be considered, but the most important factor in selecting an awardee will be research accomplishments. The recipient of the Charles D. Scott Award will receive a plaque and complimentary registration for three successive annual meetings of the Symposium, to include the year in which the recipient is awarded.

Bioeconomy Leadership Award

Deadline Passed

The “Bioeconomy Leadership Award” is given on behalf of the SBFC community to a company or non-governmental organization that has significantly advanced the development of a renewable resource-based fuels and chemicals economy. This award is intended to recognize demonstrated and sustained leadership excellence in enabling and realizing commercialization of biomass conversion technologies for fuels and chemicals production. Unique among the SBFC awards, the Bioeconomy Leadership Award is presented to a company or institution rather than to an individual. This new award has been conceived to showcase organizational leadership in advancing development of the bio-based economy.

Diversity Student Travel Award

Deadline Passed

The SIMB Diversity Travel Award has been established to promote diversity and to increase the participation of underrepresented minority groups in the Society of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) amongst the graduate students making presentations at the SBFC: Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels and Chemicals meeting.

Raphael Katzen Award

Not being awarded in 2026

The Raphael Katzen Award is presented at the Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels and Chemicals. The nominee must have made substantial contributions to the development of commercial biotechnology for the production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. These contributions should be of exceptional merit, reflecting significant advancements in technology or commercial practices leading toward implementation. Activities such as fundamental research, publications, journal editing, organizing and chairing conferences, and serving scientific societies in official capacities may be considered, but the most important factor in selecting an awardee will be accomplishments in commercialization. The recipient of the Raphael Katzen Award will receive a plaque and complimentary registration for three successive annual meetings of the Symposium.

Past Awardees

2025 – 47th Symposium – Robert Kelly
2024 – 46th Symposium – Huimin Zhao
2023 – 45th Symposium – Badal Saha
2022 – 44th Symposium – Steve Lewis
2021 – 43rd Symposium – Sang Yup Lee
2020 – 42nd Symposium – Greg Beckham
2019 – 41st Symposium – Merja Penttilä
2018 – 40th Symposium – Lisbeth Olsson
2017 – 39th Symposium – Jonathan Mielenz
2016 – 38th Symposium – Charles Abbas
2015 – 37th Symposium – Peter Biely
2014 – 36th Symposium – Rodney Bothast
2013 – 35th Symposium – Liisa Viikari
2012 – 34th Symposium – Jens Nielsen
2011 – 33rd Symposium – Steve Picataggio
2010 – 32nd Symposium – Michael E. Himmel
2009 – 31st Symposium – Michael R. Ladisch
2008 – 30th Symposium – Barbel Hahn-Hagerdal
2007 – 29th Symposium – Lonnie O. Ingram
2006 – 28th Symposium – Mark Finkelstein
2006 – 28th Symposium – Brian Davison
2005 – 27th Symposium – Lee Lynd
2004 – 26th Symposium – Guido Zacchi
2003 – 25th Symposium – Thomas W. Jeffries
2002 – 24th Symposium – Sharon Shoemaker
2001 – 23rd Symposium – Patrick Foody
2000 – 22nd Symposium – Karel Grohman
1999 – 21st Symposium – Charles E. Wyman
1998 – 20th Symposium – Jack Saddler
1997 – 19th Symposium – Raphael Katzen
1996 – 18th Symposium – Bruce Dale
1995 – 17th Symposium – Donald J. Johnson

2025 – 47th Symposium – Catia Bastioli
2024 – 46th Symposium – Not awarded this year
2023 – 45th Symposium – Sean Simpson
2022 – 44th Symposium – Not awarded this year
2021 – 43rd Symposium – Ajikumar (Aji) Parayil
2020 – 42nd Symposium – No recipient selected
2019 – 41st Symposium – No recipient selected
2018 – 40th Symposium – Jeff Lievense
2017 – 39th Symposium – Brian Foody
2016 – 38th Symposium – No recipient selected
2015 – 37th Symposium – Phil Madson
2014 – 36th Symposium – Jim Millis
2013 – 35th Symposium – No recipient selected
2012 – 34th Symposium – John Ferrell
2011 – 33rd Symposium – Patrick Foody, Sr.
2010 – 32nd Symposium – No recipient selected
2009 – 31st Symposium – Douglas Cameron
2008 – 30th Symposium – Raphael Katzen

2025 – Camila Valderrama
2024 – Emily Aicher
2024 – Daniela Ruiz
2023 – Kathryn Hoyt
2023 – Diana Milena Ramirez Gutierrez
2022 – Christian Alcaraz
2022 – Samira Fatemi
2021 – No award given
2020 – Mara Cuebas-Irizarry
2020 – Patricia Kerner
2019 – Brianna Galbreath
2018 – Christian Alcaraz
2018 – Samira Fatemi
2017 – Emma Brace
2017 – Allison Yaguchi

2025 – 47th Symposium – Not awarded this year
2024 – 46th Symposium – LanzaTech
2023 – 45th Symposium – Not awarded this year
2022 – 44th Symposium – No recipient selected
2021 – 43rd Symposium – No recipient selected
2020 – 42nd Symposium – No recipient selected
2019 – 41st Symposium – ICM
2018 – 40th Symposium – Poet
2017 – 39th Symposium – DSM
2016 – 38th Symposium – LanzaTech
2015 – 37th Symposium – Novozymes
2014 – 36th Symposium – Genomatica
2013 – 35th Symposium – DuPont Industrial Biosciences