This $1,500 award, established by the late Reldon Cooper, co-founder of Du-Co Ceramics, is awarded to a young professional member of ACerS who demonstrates exceptional leadership and service to ACerS. Visit the Du-Co website to view photos from the announcement event, which was held at MS&T 2012.
The winner will receive an honorarium check in the amount of $1,500, a certificate of recognition and lifetime membership in ACerS.
Nomination Process
Criteria for the Award:
- ACerS member under the age of 40 at the application deadline, and in the first 10 years of their career
- Nomination to be made by an active ACerS member with at least one letter of support
- Nominees must submit a resume and biography highlighting educational, professional, and volunteer achievements, particularly emphasizing volunteer service to ACerS and YPN (Young Professionals Network) since this is an important determining factor in selection of the winner.
- Must be a current ACerS member
- Application and materials must be received by March 1
The awardee will be announced in early summer.
Nominations will be considered for a total of 5 years, assuming the candidate still meets the age and years in their career criteria as noted above.
Contact
Erica Zimmerman
Ph: 614-794-5821
ezimmerman@ceramics.org
Award Winners
Theresa (Tessa) Davey
Tessa Davey is the UKAEA Reader in Nuclear Materials at the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University in Wales, UK. Following two master’s degrees in physics (one experimental, one theoretical), she received her PhD from the Department of Materials at Imperial College London in 2017. Following this, she became faculty at Tohoku University in Japan, where she remained until 2023, and continues to hold a visiting professorship.
The goal of her research is to use a multi-scale simulation approach to discover and develop new materials that will be used in the most extreme conditions. She has previously worked extensively with ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs), nickel-base superalloys, and advanced alloys for nuclear fuels. Her recent work with UHTCs was recognized by the ACerS International Journal of Ceramic Engineering and Science with their 2023 Best Paper Award, as well through 23 invited presentations at conferences, workshops, and universities. Tessa has organized or co-organized 8 symposia at international conferences on technical and professional development topics.
Tessa has been an active contributor to the ACerS community since she became a delegate of the President’s Council of Student Advisors (PCSA) in 2014. She went on to become the first international PCSA Council Chair and was recognized for her leadership in encouraging diversity and inclusion with the ACerS Global Ambassador Award in 2017. Tessa continues to serve as a mentor for the PCSA, and other students through the ACerS Mentor Program. Over the years, Tessa has served on 13 ACerS committees, currently focusing on her work as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, the Secretary of the Japan Chapter, and a member of the Engineering Ceramics Division International Committee.
Nomination Deadline
March 1 Annually