Trisha L. Andrew is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Trisha's programmatic vision blends her knowledge of synthetic chemistry with insights into device engineering and physics. Her research program aims to use a unique class of open-shell organic materials to make next-generation optoelectronic and spintronic devices. Her ultimate vision is to fabricate large-area, low-cost and lightweight organic electronic devices using non-traditional active materials.
Trisha was named to the Forbes magazine “30 Under 30 in Energy” list in 2012, which recognizes talented young innovators whose work holds potential for the energy landscape of the future. Additionally, the quality and relevance of her creative and innovative research program, which spans doctoral programs in chemistry, materials science, and electrical engineering, is recognized by industry leaders, who awarded her the 3M Young Faculty Award in 2013.
Trisha was named one of five recipients of the 2011 L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science. The Fellows were selected from a competitive pool of candidates by an interdisciplinary review panel and a distinguished jury of nine eminent scientists and engineers based on several criteria, including exceptional academic records and intellectual merit, clearly-articulated research proposals with the potential for scientific advancement, outstanding letters of recommendation from advisers, and overall excellence. The peer-review process was managed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
She completed her postdoctoral training with Vladimir Bulovic in the Organic and Nanostructured Electronics (ONE) Lab at MIT, working on studying polymer-fullerene interfaces in and designing fullerene alternatives for bulk-heterojunction solar cells.
While working as a graduate researcher with Timothy M. Swager at MIT (2005-2010), she focused on designing and synthesizing organic chromophores and polymers for explosives detection, biological imaging, lithography and organic electronics. She received her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from MIT in 2010. During her graduate career, she helped develop a detection system for vapor phase identification of explosive peroxides that comprises a commercial detection system known as PaxPoint. Additionally, Dr. Andrew established a unique mechanism with which to detect nitramine (C4) and nitroester-based explosives, which was licensed by FLIR technologies and incorporated into a detection system that allowed stand-off (>50 m) detection of hidden IEDs in theater.
Trisha worked for Natia Frank as an undergraduate researcher between 2002 and 2005, where she developed and interest in magnetic and magnetoelectronic materials. She earned a B.S. with honors in chemistry from the University of Washington in 2005.
Trisha likes scientific toys and glowing molecules. She is happiest when using a sandblaster in her lab.
These are pictures of Trisha one one of the coolest days of her life, when she had the chance to meet the head of NASA and make a speech at the podium in the Kennedy Caucus Room in the US Senate:
- 3M Young Faculty Award, 2013
- "30 Under 30" in Energy, Forbes Magazine, 2012
- MIT Materials Day Best Poster Presentation Award, 2010
- Canadian Chemical Society Best Oral Presentation Award, 2010
- MIT-Wyeth Scholar, 2009
- Selected Student Participant in the 59th Annual Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates, 2009;
Read the Seattle PI Article written about Trisha
- Chesonis Family Foundation Solar Revolution Project Fellow, 2008
- Corning Foundation Graduate Fellowship, 2007
- Merck Index Award, 2005
- H. K. Benson Scholarship, 2005
- Rex K. and Ruth C. Robinson Scholarship, 2005
- Berkelhammer Book Award, 2005
- University of Washington Department of Chemistry Student Service Award, 2005
- Mary Gates Research Scholar, 2003 and 2004
- Zahlia Jencks Rowe Scholar in Chemistry, 2003
- Hyp Dauben Award for Excellence in Organic Chemistry, 2003