Cornell engineering faculty members Brian Kirby and Chekesha Liddell have each received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from two different federal agencies. The winners were honored at White House ceremonies, Nov. 1.

The presidential awards are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government for outstanding scientists and engineers in the early part of their independent research careers.

Kirby, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, was recognized for his work with nanoscale electrokinetic transport, including pathogen and chemical detection, quantum data storage and advanced microsystems. He was among eight PECASE award winners from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science and its National Nuclear Security Administration.

Kirby runs the Micro/Nanofluidics Laboratory, a mechanical engineering research group devoted to understanding and applying micro- and nano-fluidic systems. Their research includes physics and techniques for making devices, defined by the length scale of flow channels.

Liddell, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, was awarded the PECASE by the National Science Foundation, along with 19 others. Liddell's research involves nanoscale particles that arrange themselves into structures and promise high levels of control over light waves in future applications.

Liddell's research group at Cornell focuses on developing colloid-based materials and on understanding the relationship between their structure and properties. The award cites her work with self-assembly of artificial crystal structures from colloidal particle building blocks, which have properties that may enhance strength of interaction between light and matter.