This award recognizes early career researchers leading the environmental science and technology fields in new directions through creative, novel ideas. Learn more about the 2025 winners in these exclusive interviews.

The James J. Morgan Environmental Science & Technology Early Career Award is presented annually by Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and Environmental Science & Technology Letters (ES&T Letters). This award, named after the first Editor-in-Chief of ES&T, recognizes those early career researchers who are leading the fields of environmental science and technology in new directions through creative, new ideas consistent with Morgan’s early contributions in environmental chemistry.
This year, the award recognizes five young investigators based in Europe, The Middle East, and Africa.
We are excited to announce the 2025 winners:
- Razi Epsztein, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
- Naresh Kumar, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
- Philiswa Nomngongo, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Case van Genuchten, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark
- Zongsu Wei, Aarhus University, Denmark
Congratulations to the 2025 award recipients! Each winner will receive their award and present a lecture during a special ES&T Journals Award Session at ACS Spring 2025 on Monday, March 24. Come and join us in congratulating them.
Learn more about this year's winners and their leading-edge research below.
Razi Epsztein

Naresh Kumar

Philiswa Nomngongo

Case van Genuchten

Zongsu Wei
