Learn more about Dr. Aaron Rowane in an exclusive interview and browse the 2026 winner's published research in ACS Journals.
The Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data Early Career Award is presented annually to one outstanding early career scientist/engineer conducting experimental or computational research in thermophysical properties and phase equilibria. For the 2026 award year, we received a significant number of outstanding nominations. Thank you to everyone who submitted their nomination, and we hope you will again submit your nomination for a future award.
We are pleased to announce Dr. Aaron Rowane as the winner of the 2026 Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data Early Career Award.
Dr. Rowane is a mechanical engineer in the Thermodynamic Properties of Fluids Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Rowane received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Ph.D. from City, University of London in mechanical engineering. During his Ph.D. research, Dr. Rowane contributed to the development of several instruments to measure the viscosity, density, phase behavior, and interfacial tension of diesel fuels and also in the presence of an inert gas at high-temperature, high-pressure conditions. At NIST, Dr. Rowane is continuing related efforts involving biodiesel + petro-diesel blends, and is also involved in measurement of transport properties for refrigerant mixtures.
As the recipient of the Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data Early Career Award, Dr. Rowane will present his current research and be presented the Early Career Award in a webinar organized by ACS Publications and JCED later this year. Look out for more information on how to register for this webinar soon.
Read Our Interview with Dr. Rowane
What inspired you to pursue this field of research?
What attracted me to work in thermophysical properties research was the wide-ranging impact of the field. I have had the opportunity to work on projects that have directly contributed to advances in fuel systems, refrigeration, and chemical process design. What has kept me active in thermophysical properties research is that while I occasionally tackle very applied research problems, my contributions very much remain within the bounds of fundamental research.
What does winning this award mean to you?
Winning the 2026 early career award from Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data is a great honor and has been extremely motivating to me. It validates that my contributions to the field of thermophysical properties have had a great impact on the field. I also acknowledge my mentors in this space who have shaped my career including my academic advisors Professor Emeritus Mark A. McHugh and Manolis Gavaises and those at NIST: Mark O. McLinden, Richard A. Perkins, Stephanie Outcalt, Tara Fortin, Ian H. Bell, Marcia L. Huber, and Eric W. Lemmon. I am inspired to provide the same level of mentorship to younger researchers in my field so they can also excel in this discipline.
What advances are you hoping to see in your field in the next decade?
I envision the rise of autonomous, theory-driven, instrumentation to measure thermophysical properties. Such an instrument would incorporate elements of artificial intelligence (AI), thermodynamic modeling, and measured experimental data to be capable of decision making that is typically driven by the human user. In the age of AI such instruments are becoming a real possibility and will allow us to tackle much more challenging problems in chemical engineering. An example of where such an instrument would excel is in studying phase equilibria. It is straightforward to visualize on a diagram the phase behavior of non-reactive binary or ternary mixtures and fully characterizing such systems has become mostly a routine process. However, characterizing the phase behavior of systems with 4 or more components, reactions, or systems that form complexes becomes more challenging. Such an instrument would be capable of more rapidly targeting conditions of academic and industrial importance. Having a better understanding of such systems would provide real value to our understanding of thermodynamics and the chemical manufacturing industry.
What advice would you give to young investigators who aspire to be where you are now?
I think there are two very important things to keep in mind as you develop your career. The first is to have confidence in yourself to propose new ideas or solutions to your academic advisors or peers. The most valuable thing that you bring with you when you enter a new field of research is a new set of eyes and your unique perspective. The second is to take advantage of every networking opportunity that is put in front of you and do not be overly timid. Building your network is going to provide you with mentors and potentially even contacts for future collaborations or job opportunities.
Learn About Last Year's Winner
