Join AWIS Chicago for our Annual Awards and Networking Event!

When: Thursday, December 1, 2022, from 6:00-7:30 pm
Where: Midwest Coast Brewing Company (2137 W Walnut St. Chicago, Illinois 60612)
Tickets: Reserve your space here!

This year we will be celebrating the winners of our Innovator and Motivator Awards with an in-person event featuring networking and happy hour. ALL are welcome, but space is limited and ticket purchase/registration is required! We hope to see you there!

We are thrilled to honor this year’s award winners! With your ticket purchase, you will receive one drink ticket for beer or cider, along with lite bites.

Event Schedule

6-6:20: Arrival

6:20-6:30: Welcome by 2021 Motivator Award Winner Mary Khetani and her mentee/nominator Vera Kaelin

6:30-6:45: Presentation of 2022 Innovator and Motivator Award Winners

2022 Innovator Award: Alessandra Eustaquio, Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy and Center for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago

For her work at Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development yielding improvement of the compound spliceostatin from the bacterial strain Burkholderia FERM BP-3421, and facilitating pre-clinical development for cancer treatment

2022 Innovator Award: Smita Darmora, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Appointee, Argonne National Laboratory

For her contributions to the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, including the development of an algorithm for calibrating the detector component, TileCal, and computational analysis, in its search for new particles that make up dark matter and study of fundamental particles and forces

2022 Innovator Award: Seonyeong Park, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

For her research on photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) as a cost-effective, sensitive, and specific technique utilizing non-ionizing radiation to image breast tissue for screening and treatment of breast cancer

2022 Motivator Award: Dawnne LePretre, Ph.D., Director of Development and Programs, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST)

For her development of the Inclusiveness in STEM series hosted by C2ST and committed to advancing STEM inclusivity and building equity for all underrepresented groups currently in or pursuing STEM careers

6:45-7:30: Networking