UVA Wise Senior Abigail Edwards Wins National Award for Inorganic Chemistry Research and the Chancellor’s Medal

Abigail Edwards, a senior chemistry major at the University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise), has been named the 2025 recipient of the Award for Undergraduate Research at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution by the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Division of Inorganic Chemistry.

This national award recognizes Edwards’ exceptional research accomplishments in inorganic chemistry, particularly her work exploring the role of aromatic groups in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their effectiveness in removing organic dyes from water. Her winning presentation, “Evaluation of Aromatic Groups in Metal-Organic Frameworks on Dye Adsorption Properties,” was featured at the ACS Spring National Meeting, where she was formally recognized.

“I was so excited to receive this award,” Edwards shared. “I love the research I’ve been doing and find it absolutely fascinating, but it was also incredibly encouraging to see others in the scientific community appreciate the significance of this work too.”

Conducted under the mentorship of UVA Wise’s Van W. Daniel III Endowed Professor in Chemistry Tegan Makal, Edwards’s research builds on previous studies that showed promising results in using highly aromatic MOFs, like Cu₂BADI, for dye adsorption. Her project compared multiple copper-based MOFs to evaluate how the degree of aromaticity in their ligands influences their ability to remove pollutants like methylene blue and Congo red from aqueous solutions. This work has strong environmental implications, especially for developing sustainable water remediation technologies.

Edwards began her research journey through a course in the National Science Foundation’s Scholarship in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program at UVA Wise, which introduced her to hands-on lab experience. That initial exposure led her to pursue four semesters of research-for-credit and two competitive summer fellowships through the Fellowship in the Natural Sciences program.

“These programs gave me so many opportunities to dive deep into my research, spend time in the lab and even travel to present my work at national conferences,” she said.

In addition to her academic excellence and research leadership, Edwards has co-authored abstracts, presented her findings at multiple ACS conferences and served as a peer resource to fellow students in the sciences.

“Abigail blossomed as a researcher, contributing to the development of new questions and potential solutions to challenges faced throughout her work. She exhibited an enthusiasm for laboratory research not commonly observed in undergraduate students and a devotion to seeking out answers through systematic experimentation. She has been a pleasure to teach,” says Professor Tegan A. Makal. 

Looking ahead, Edwards plans to attend pharmacy school, where she hopes to continue pursuing research alongside her clinical training. Ultimately, she plans on returning to her hometown region to practice pharmacy and serve the local community.

Edwards also won the Chancellor’s Medal for 2025, a prestigious honor which is awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated excellence in the pursuit of knowledge beyond the classroom.