Recognizing early career researchers leading the fields in new directions through creative, new ideas consistent with Morgan's early contributions to environmental chemistry.
The James J. Morgan Early Career Award is presented annually by Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and Environmental Science & Technology Letters (ES&T Letters), and the Environmental Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society (ENVR). 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 four early career investigators based in the Asia Pacific Region.
We are excited to announce the 2026 winners:
- Chiheng Chu, Zhejiang University, China
- Ling Jin, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China
- Zhe Yang, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China
- Yanyan Zhang, Westlake University, China
Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients! Each winner will receive their award and present a lecture during a special ES&T Journals Award Session at ACS Spring 2026 on Monday, March 23. Come and join us in congratulating them.
Learn more about them and their leading-edge research below.
Chiheng Chu
Ling Jin
Zhe Yang
Yanyan Zhang
Learn About Last Year’s Winners
Celebrate 150 Years of Chemistry and Community
ACS 150th Anniversary
Celebrating ACS150: Chemistry is Everything
Throughout 2026, ACS will mark 150 years of advancing chemistry — a historic milestone built on discovery, innovation, and community.
