Meet the Brazilian Women in Chemistry Awards 2026 Winners

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Brazilian Chemical Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Química, SBQ) are pleased to announce the 2026 Brazilian Women in Chemistry Awards recipients. This initiative was created to recognize outstanding women scientists in Brazil that are making great contributions to science and impact to the global society and our planet.

Since 2018, ACS and SBQ have given these awards to more than 20 women across three categories: Emerging Leader in Chemistry and Related Areas, Leadership in Academia, and Leadership in Industry.In 2026, we were pleased to receive applications from all five regions of Brazil. The exceptional quality of the nominees and applications highlights the strength and impact of science from across the country.

We are proud to recognize winners whose work is both impactful and inspiring, brings us together around a shared goal, and advances innovation in the chemistry enterprise to drive sustainability and build a cleaner future. We are honored to present the 2026 winners in each category!

“I’m continually inspired by the remarkable women we’ve recognized through this award since its launch in 2018. This year’s awardees exemplify the innovation, leadership, and dedication that drive science forward. I’m especially grateful for our continued partnership with SBQ and the opportunity to elevate these scientists’ achievements, which undoubtedly inspire the next generation of leaders in Chemistry,” says LaTrease E. Garrison, ACS Chief Operating Officer.

Browse by Winner:
Dr. Cassiana Carolina Montagner (Emerging Leader in Chemistry and Related Areas)
Dr. Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade (Leader in Academia)
Dr. Márcia Cristina Khalil de Oliveira (Leader in Industry)

Emerging Leader in Chemistry and Related Areas

This award recognizes a young scientist with an outstanding career and exceptional contributions in their field. Eligible candidates are up to 45 years old or within 10 years of completing their doctorate as of December 31, 2025, with extensions granted for parental leave.

Winner: Dr. Cassiana Carolina Montagner, State University of Campinas

Dr. Cassiana Carolina Montagner is a Professor at State University of Campinas (Unicamp) with a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry. With a remarkable publication output in recent years, her research focuses on environmental and sustainable chemistry, with an emphasis on water security in urban areas and in the Amazon rainforest, encompassing the occurrence, fate, and impacts of emerging contaminants, microplastics, and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial systems. One prominent research topic of hers seeks to investigate environmental risks to water resources from Iriri River basin (Southern Amazon rainforest) and potential health and social impacts to to local indigenous Panará people. She also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Química Nova, a scholarly journal published by SBQ, and as Topic Editor of Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Dr. Montagner has been an active advocate for inclusion and equity in science, contributing to many initiatives such as being a founder member of the Women’s Committee in the Institute of Chemistry of Unicamp. She has also contributed to policy documents and work groups from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Health Organization (WHO) in environmental pollutants, pesticides, microplastics, and hazardous compounds.

Read Dr. Montagner’s article in ACS Omega:

Leader in Academia

The “Leadership in Academia” category recognizes a scientist with an established track record in academia and whose contribution to scientific research in chemistry has both a global and social impact.

Winner: Dr. Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade, University of São Paulo

This year’s awardee is Dr. Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade, Ph.D. in Chemistry and Full Professor at the Ribeirão Preto campus of University of São Paulo (USP). Dr. Andrade has built a notable 38-year career with prominent research in electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, and bioelectrocatalysis. Her focus is on the development of fuel cells, enzymatic and microbiological fuel biocells, electrocatalysis-driven processes, pollutant bioremediation and degradation, energy production, and many more. Mentoring more than 50 students and postdoctoral researchers with a 140+ article output, Dr. Andrade has established herself as a distinguished scientist in the academic community.

She is involved in many science outreach and communication activities, as well as being an active scientific society member. Dr. Andrade was the President of the Brazilian Society of Electrochemistry and Electroanalytical Science (Sociedade Brasileira de Eletroquímica e Eletroanalítica, SBEE) from 2021 to 2023, as a Director and Advisory Board member of the Brazilian Chemical Society, and Vice Chair of the International Electrochemical Society’s Brazil Chapter.

Read Dr. Andrade’s article in ACS Materials Au:

Leader in Industry

This category recognizes a scientist working in the chemical, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries that has been constantly innovating to achieve commercial success and benefit society.

Winner: Dr. Márcia Cristina Khalil de Oliveira, Petrobras

Dr. Márcia Cristina Khalil de Oliveira holds a Ph.D. degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and acts as the Senior Flow Assurance Advisor in the Research, Development and Innovation Center (CENPES) of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), one of the most important companies in Latin America. Her work includes petroleum chemistry and engineering, focusing on crude oil flow behavior, rheology, interfacial phenomena, emulsions, wax and asphaltene precipitation, oilfield chemistry, and digital flow assurance solutions, looking towards operational efficiency and innovation.

An inventor of twenty-two patents, Dr. Oliveira’s research is aimed at practical and scalable solutions aligned for safety, productivity, and sustainability. With an impressive 70+ published articles, she has also mentored graduate students and young researchers, including in gender equity initiatives. All these remarkable achievements led to many honors, such as being a 16-time recipient of Petrobras Inventor Award and the 2024 Production and Operations Award in Latin America & Caribbean from the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Read Dr. Oliveira’s article in Energy & Fuels:

As we approach nine consecutive years for giving these awards and celebrate three more outstanding leaders in the Brazilian scientific community, our enduring goal is to continue working alongside the SBQ to further strengthen the presence of women in chemistry in Brazil.

A core value of ACS is the empowerment of young and aspiring scientists is fundamental to shaping the future global leaders who will tackle humanity's most demanding challenges and drive global advancements built on science.

A meaningful award ceremony will be hosted on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, during the 49th Brazilian Chemical Society Annual Meeting in Campinas, Brazil. If you are attending this conference, we invite you to join us to celebrate these three inspiring scientists!