The Division of Professional Relations (PROF) of the American Chemical Society (ACS) announces their selection for the PROF Leadership Development Award, Dr. Vishal Yadav. Dr. Yadav will represent PROF at the annual ACS Leadership Development Institute, January 30 – February 1, 2026, in Atlanta, GA.
The ACS Leadership Development Institute is an invitation-only conference where leaders
across the chemical enterprise come together to develop and hone their skills in leadership and management to empower their success as ACS Leadership. Alongside workshops and networking events, the conference will feature track-based training, such as growing leaders in ACS Divisions, Local Sections, and Younger Leaders.
The investment in the next generation of leaders is critical to the Division’s vision of elevating professionalism. “The ACS Leadership Institute provides hands-on training and opportunities for leaders to hone their skills and build their toolkits. We strive to foster a strong leadership pipeline for our Division, our Society, and broader scientific community,” shared Annabelle Lolinco, PROF’s Communication Coordinator and PROF LDI Award lead.
Dr. Yadav is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Pennsylvania State University. He studies nonheme iron enzymes and developing mechanistic blueprints for abiotic reactions. Mentorship and community are central to his work, as he highlights his mentorship of students through Penn State’s Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity and has led his lab’s sustainability effort to achieve the highest-level My Green Lab certification.
“Being recognized with honors such as the [PROF] Leadership Development Award… holds a special meaning for me. These acknowledgments reflect not only my scientific work but also my commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive spaces, as well as investing in the transformative power of mentorship. The [award] serves as an enduring reminder that the impact we have on others can be just as significant as any paper we publish,” commented Dr. Yadav.
To learn more about Dr. Yadav, please see his spotlight post.
The Division of Professional Relations of the American Chemical Society is a division for all chemists, representing all chemical professionals of all identities, career stages, and chemical disciplines. PROF aims to empower chemical professionals through building communities, sharing resources, and hosting programming.
