The Supelco AOCS Research Award recognizes outstanding, original research in fats, oils, lipid chemistry or biochemistry. Sponsored by MilliporeSigma.
What does the recipient receive?
- Plaque
- US $10,000 honorarium
- Up to a US $1,500 travel allowance
- Opportunity to present an award lecture at the AOCS Annual Meeting
Who is eligible?
- Candidates who have:
- outstanding original research on fats, oils, lipid chemistry, or biochemistry published in highly-cited journals, books, papers, etc.
- not received the Alton E. Bailey Award or Stephen S. Chang Award in the past three years
- Preference is given to individuals who are actively associated with research and have made influential discoveries in their respective fields
How do I nominate someone?
Login to the Awards Portal to submit the following nomination materials and answer two questions about the nominee.
- Letter of nomination describing the candidate’s research and service in the fields of fats, oils and related materials
- At least three letters of support from individuals familiar with the candidate’s accomplishments
- Curriculum Vitae which includes a full list of publications and patents
Most Recent Recipient
Edgar Cahoon is the George Holmes University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Center for Plant Science Innovation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). He has nearly 30 years of research experience in plant lipid biochemistry and biotechnology. Prior to joining the UNL faculty in 2008, Dr. Cahoon served as a scientist and principal investigator at DuPont Crop Genetics, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and the USDA-ARS. Dr. Cahoon uses biochemistry and functional genomics to uncover variant metabolic pathways that convert photosynthetic carbon into high-value fatty acids, antioxidants, and carotenoids. His team employs metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to transfer these pathways into biomass crops and oilseeds, such as soybean and camelina, enhancing oil value for sustainable aviation fuel and aquaculture feedstocks. Additionally, he conducts fundamental research on the biosynthesis and function of sphingolipids and other bioactive lipids. His work has led to the discovery of novel seed oil fatty acids, including “nebraskanic acid” and “lincolnic acid,” for high-performance lubricants. A prolific inventor and scholar, Dr. Cahoon holds 35 US patents and has authored more than 185 publications. He was recognized as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2024 and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2019. He also received an honorary doctorate in Plant Breeding from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in 2017. Dr. Cahoon earned his BS from Virginia Tech, MS from Cornell University, and PhD from Michigan State University.
The overall goal of Dr. Bazinet’s research program is to identify the mechanisms that regulate brain lipid metabolism (signaling) and to identify the role of brain lipid metabolism in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Bazinet has published over 200 papers, largely in the field of brain fatty acid metabolism and is co-author of the joint WHO/FAO joint expert consultation on dietary fats and the central nervous system during aging and disease and was previously the president and is now a fellow of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL).