José Carlos Díaz and Jovan Kamcev receive Pace Fellowship

Chemical Engineering PhD student José Carlos Díaz and Assistant Professor Jovan Kamcev have been awarded the Rackham Partnerships for Access, Community, and Excellence (PACE) Fellowship. This fellowship, established under the Rackham Merit Fellowship program, recognizes exceptional graduate student-faculty pairs who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and student success.

José Carlos Díaz: A leader in research and outreach

Díaz’s dissertation research focuses on ion transport in charged polymer membranes, a critical area for applications in water desalination and energy storage. His work aims to develop new technologies that address global water scarcity, where over two billion people lack access to clean water. His research insights into how water content in membranes influences ion transport promise to advance the efficiency of seawater desalination processes.

“Given the looming problem of water scarcity, where over 2 billion people globally lack access to freshwater, it is imperative to develop technologies that can convert non-traditional water sources like seawater into fresh water,” Díaz said. “Seawater desalination is vital for addressing this global issue, as most of the world is covered by ocean water.”

In addition to his research, Díaz’s academic achievements have earned several competitive national fellowships, including the Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) and the National Water Research Institute Student Fellowship.

Beyond the lab and classroom, Díaz is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the department. His leadership as an outreach officer for the Chemical Engineering Graduate Society and his role in revitalizing the department’s outreach programs following the COVID-19 pandemic are testaments to his dedication. He has led initiatives including FEMMES (Women+ Excelling More in Math, Engineering, and the Sciences) activities to inspire young girls and students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue STEM careers and co-founded a Graduate School Workshop to guide undergraduate students through the graduate school application process.

“José’s outstanding scholarly achievements, dedication to teaching, and sustained commitment to diversity through outreach and mentorship exemplify his exceptional promise as a future leader in academia and beyond,” said Kamcev. “His contributions have not only advanced his field but also fostered a more inclusive and supportive academic environment in our department and the university.”

Díaz and Kamcev at Díaz’s dissertation defense.

Jovan Kamcev: A mentor committed to student success

Kamcev is recognized for his personalized, flexible approach to mentoring, ensuring that each student achieves their full potential. His mentoring philosophy, informed by his participation in programs such as the Rackham MORE Mentoring Workshop, emphasizes open communication, goal-setting, and holistic student development.

“My students have achieved significant success, winning numerous awards including national fellowships, poster and oral presentation awards, and departmental honors,” Kamcev said. “One of my proudest mentoring achievements is the success of my first PhD graduate, José, who has secured a prestigious national postdoctoral fellowship at Berkeley National Laboratory.”

In addition to his mentoring accomplishments, Kamcev is a leader in advancing diversity and inclusion within the department. His outreach initiatives, which include hosting hands-on activities for local middle school students and integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion modules into his teaching, highlight his dedication to promoting equitable access to education and inspiring the next generation of engineers.

The PACE Fellowship honors up to 20 pairs of doctoral students and their mentors with a one-term fellowship and a $2,500 award for each recipient. Both Díaz and Kamcev exemplify the values of this fellowship, as demonstrated by their contributions to research, education and efforts to enhance the program climate and inclusivity in the field of chemical engineering.