ASU chemistry professor honored with prestigious Presidential Early Career Award

Gary Moore, an associate professor in Arizona State University’s School of Molecular Sciences, has been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on early-career scientists and engineers.

Moore was recognized for his research in energy conversion and fuel production, achievements that were highlighted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

“I am honored and thankful to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers,” said Moore, who also received his PhD from ASU. “The research efforts this award recognizes are supported by the Department of Energy Solar Photochemistry program and made possible by the efforts of my research team, including current and past students in the School of Molecular Sciences.”

Established in 1996 by the National Science and Technology Council, the PECASE honors researchers who demonstrate exceptional potential to advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge and a strong commitment to community service, leadership, and education.

“Gary’s receipt of the Presidential Early Career Award is a proud moment for the School of Molecular Sciences,” said Tijana Rajh, director of the school. “His transformative work in energy conversion exemplifies the innovative research and real-world impact that define our faculty. We are thrilled to celebrate his success and look forward to the continued contributions of his team.”

Nature-Inspired Research

Moore’s research blends chemistry and inspiration from nature to create nano materials that mimic the chemical processes of living systems.

The research in Moore’s group at ASU focuses on using sunlight to drive chemical reactions.

Applications of this work range from manufacturing fuels and fine chemicals to controlling the bioenergetics essential to all living organisms.

Moore was also recently elected to serve as co-chair and then chair of the 2026 and 2028 Gordon Research Conferences on Electron Donor Acceptor Interactions. The Gordon Research Conferences provide “an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research in the biological, chemical, physical and engineering sciences and their interfaces.”

Moore’s achievements build on his leadership through scientific research. Moore has previously been recognized as a National Academy of Science Kavli Fellow, an Inter-American Photochemical Society Young Investigator Awardee, a Negative Emission Science Fellow (sponsored by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation), a Department of Energy Early Career Awardee, a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, an ARCS Foundation Exceptional Mentor Awardee, and a National Science Foundation CAREER Awardee.

About the PECASE Awards

On January 14, President Biden recognized nearly 400 scientists and engineers with the PECASE award. The recipients, representing 14 federal agencies including the Departments of Energy, Defense, and Health and Human Services, were selected for their contributions to advancing science and technology and addressing critical national challenges.

The PECASE awards highlight the importance of scientific research to America’s future. By fostering innovation, recognizing scientific missions across agencies, and promoting careers in science and engineering, these awards aim to strengthen connections between research and the nation’s most pressing issues.

Gary Moore is also associate faculty in the Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and a senior global futures scientist.