LEWISTON — Bates College chemistry professor Thomas Wenzel has received the American Chemical Society’s 25th Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution.

Wenzel, a Lewiston resident who came to Bates in 1981, is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry. The ACS award recognizes faculty at undergraduate institutions whose research has been widely recognized and who have contributed significantly to both the field of chemistry and the professional development of students.

The award “is the single largest honor that a chemical researcher at an undergraduate institution could hope for,” said Rachel Narehood Austin, chairwoman of the Bates chemistry department. “For Tom, it’s a profound recognition of his substantial accomplishments over a very vibrant career.”

The award, including grants of $5,000 to Wenzel and $5,000 to Bates, acknowledges the distinctive challenges of conducting meaningful research at undergraduate institutions, in contrast to large research universities that offer extensive infrastructure, big budgets and the assistance of experienced graduate students in the lab.

As an analytical chemist, Wenzel conducts research on the development of methods to identify and quantify chemicals in mixtures.

Wenzel is known internationally for this research that has resulted in more than 120 publications and attracted some $2 million in external grants, including six rounds of funding from the National Science Foundation.

During Wenzel’s time at Bates, 107 students have collaborated in his research and 76 have co-authored peer-reviewed publications about the work. He has been particularly active in involving students from groups historically underrepresented in the sciences.

“The student is involved in all the stages of implementing a project,” he said. “Students are expected to become equal partners – offering suggestions, going through the literature, sorting out problems along the way.”

 Wenzel calls the award doubly gratifying, honoring both his direct contribution to chemistry – his ongoing research – and the ripple effect created by inspiring students to pursue careers in science.