The newest recipient of the Blanchard Fellowship for 2005 is Dr. Julia Kubanek, who is an assistant professor in the Schools of Biology and Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Past recipients of the Blanchard Fellowship are:

2004 Marcus Weck
2003 L. Andrew Lyon
2002 C. David Sherrill
2001 Robert M. Dickson
2000 Suzanne Shuker
1999 Rigoberto Hernandez

Elwood P. Blanchard Jr., who earned a chemistry degree at Tech in 1953 and a master's in chemistry in 1954, retired as vice chairman of the board of du Pont, headquartered in Wilmington,
Delaware. Blanchard joined the company in 1959 as a staff member in the Central Research and development Department. In 1966, he was appointed regional manager in the film department at Du Pont's facility in Buffalo, N.Y. He returned to Wilmington in 1968 and held a series of positions in research and development, marketing, and manufacturing, becoming director of manufacture in 1974.

He was appointed director of the Dyes and Chemicals Division in 1975, and was named general manager of the Chemicals and Pigments Department in 1978. In early 1983, he was named group vice president of chemicals and pigments. Blanchard was elected a director, executive vice president and a member of Executive Committee in late 1987. The following year, he was elected vice chairman of the board, and became a member of the newly established Office of the chairman in 1990. He was named chairman of Du Pont Canada in 1991. In addition to his Tech degrees, Blanchard earned a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Blanchard Fellowship was initiated in 1999 by the endowment established by Elwood P. "Doc" Blanchard, Jr. to fund an assistant professor who is midway toward tenure (in the 3rd or 4th year). The major criterion for success will be maximum impact on the career of the awardee.

Dr. Kubanek was honored this past year by the White House as one of the country's top young scientists. Kubanek was one of 57 scientists and engineers recognized with the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the nation's highest honor for professionals at the outset of their research careers.