Tufts alumnus wins Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence

At a recent ceremony in Houston, Texas, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) recognized Adam Weber, EG99, with the Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence. During his time at Tufts, Weber was named an Astronaut Scholar, which supports exceptional undergraduate juniors and seniors in STEM fields. Each year since 2016, the foundation selects one outstanding astronaut scholar alum who best exemplifies the personal character and professional achievements of Neil Armstrong, to receive the Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence.

Weber earned both his BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering at Tufts and his PhD from University of California, Berkeley. He currently works as a senior scientist and the leader of the energy conversion group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He is also the co-director of the Department of Energy funded Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck Consortium and is the chief technology officer of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES).

In addition to his ASF awards, Weber received a 2012 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), a 2016 Sir William Grove Award from the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, a 2020 R&D100 award for microelectrode development, a 2023 Fuel Cell Award from the Department of Energy, and the 2023 Research Award of the Energy Technology Division of the Electrochemical Society, among other accolades. 

“Dr. Weber’s pioneering work, from advancing mathematical models to driving technological applications, exemplifies excellence," said Curt Brown, chairman of ASF’s board of directors. “He is truly a trailblazer in electrochemical energy-conversion technologies and shaping the future of clean energy for generations to come.”

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was created in 1984, with a goal of supporting future generations of bright and talented college students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The founders include the six surviving astronauts of the Mercury 7 mission (the first US human spaceflight mission), the widow of the seventh astronaut, the Project Mercury flight surgeon, and a friend of the group. Within the foundation, the Neil Armstrong Award was established through a partnership with the Purdue Research Foundation, the Armstrong family, and Jim Hays, a friend to Neil Armstrong. 

“This prestigious award serves as a reminder of the profound impact mentorship and science and engineering can have in shaping the trajectory and betterment of our lives and careers,” said Weber in a recent feature on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation website. “As Neil Armstrong inspired generations through his historic lunar footsteps, I am committed to paying forward this legacy by fostering the next wave of explorers and innovators into ushering in a decarbonized future through collaboration and a team science ethos.”