Angela Wilson, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of computational chemistry at MSU, was elected an American Chemical Society Division of Physical Chemistry national councilor.
Wilson was elected to be a voice on the council on behalf of physical chemists — a role she has embraced before.
She was a national councilor from 2004-2016 when she left to serve as head of the Division of Chemistry at the National Science Foundation. It is a position she says she is pleased to fill again.
“ACS has been a great resource to me throughout my career, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to be engaged in the governance of the society,” Wilson said. “I served as a national councilor for the Dallas-Ft. Worth ACS section for over 10 years, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to be engaged in ACS again.”
Wilson’s research explores theoretical and computational chemistry. In theoretical chemistry, her research focuses on the development of quantum mechanical methods for thermochemical and spectroscopic predictions, while her computational chemistry research includes the design of new drugs, catalysts and metal-organic frameworks.
Wilson said that one of the great features of theoretical and computational chemistry is that they can be used to investigate an array of challenges.
“On behalf of the chemistry department, I congratulate Professor Wilson on being elected by her peers as a national councilor for the Physical Chemistry Division of the ACS," said Rob Maleczka, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry at MSU. "The division offices are where ACS programming and grassroots initiatives really happen, and it is always great when national leaders emerge from MSU."
Wilson’s term, which began this month, will extend until 2022.
Founded in 1876, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society with over 150,000 members. They aim to advance chemistry, elevate career potential, expand networks, inspire future generations of scientists and collaborate globally to provide scientific solutions that improve people’s lives.
For more information and a list of current ACS Physical Chemistry Division offices, visit phys-acs.org.