Key Points
- The William G. Fateley Student Award, presented annually at the SciX Conference, honors students whose passion and contributions to vibrational spectroscopy reflect the legacy of Bill Fateley.
- This year’s recipient, Steven Quarin, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Cincinnati, has been recognized for his work on reagentless SERS sensors aimed at improving diagnostic applications, particularly for infectious diseases.
- Quarin’s academic path includes degrees from Ohio State and the University of Michigan, industry experience, and award-winning research that has earned him recognition from ACS Sensors and multiple honors from his university.
The William G. Fateley Student Award is presented annually at the SciX conference organized by FACSS (1). Recipients of the Coblentz Student Award are automatically considered for the Fateley Award, with the final selection made through a collaboration between the Society’s Student Affairs Committee and the Fateley donor group. More than just a recognition of academic merit, the Fateley Award honors students whose enthusiasm for vibrational spectroscopy and contributions to the community echo Fateley’s legacy (1).
Fateley was born on May 17, 1929, in Franklin, Indiana, where he stayed throughout his college years, graduating from Franklin College in 1951 (2). He then continued his education at Northwestern University and Kansas State University. While in medical school at Indiana University, he decided to pursue his interest in physical chemistry and molecular spectroscopy (2).
Fateley became well-known for his work in chemistry and spectroscopy. A 1965 recipient of the Coblentz Award, he was known not only for his contributions to spectroscopy but also for his wit, mentorship, and tireless dedication to building a better scientific community (1). As a long-time Editor of Applied Spectroscopy and former President of Pittcon, Fateley helped shape the modern field of analytical spectroscopy (1,2). The Fateley Student Award was created to ensure this same sense of mentorship and community endures for generations to come.
This year’s awardee, Steven Quarin, is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Pietro Strobbia’s optical sensors research group at the University of Cincinnati. His academic journey has been marked by a clear commitment to innovation, cross-disciplinary exploration, and scientific rigor. After earning a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from The Ohio State University, Quarin went on to complete his M.S. at the University of Michigan, working under Dr. Ryan Bailey. There, he conducted research on demulsification of multiple emulsions in droplet microfluidics for epigenetic applications (1). Between degrees, he gained industry experience in quality control roles within both the catalysis and pharmaceutical sectors, which was an experience that helped shape his applied research approach (1).
Currently, Quarin’s doctoral research is focused on enhancing reagentless surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors for diagnostic use. His first major project aimed to improve the sensitivity of these sensors through noncovalent DNA catalytic amplification (1). He then developed and optimized a catalytic mechanism that could be reproduced algorithmically to design new sensors for other nucleic acid targets (1). This work was recognized by ACS Sensors as one of its top research papers from its first decade of publication (1).
Quarin is also conducting additional work to improve the sensitivity and dynamic range of SERS sensors. His main objective is to improve their multiplexing abilities for broader infectious disease diagnostics (1). He is also leading the development of time-encoded SERS biosensors, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with label-free detection technologies (1).
Because of his contributions and research in this space, Quarin has received multiple awards from the University of Cincinnati, including the Hans H. Jaffé Award and the Twitchell Fellowship (1). As the 2025 William G. Fateley Student Award recipient, Steven Quarin joins a cohort of young spectroscopists who carry forward not only scientific excellence but the communal and mentoring spirit that defined Bill Fateley’s life and legacy. Quarin will be recognized for his achievements at the upcoming 2025 SciX Conference, which will take place at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky (1).
References
- Coblentz Society, 2025 William G. Fateley Award Recipient – Steven Quarin. Coblentz.org. Available at: https://www.coblentz.org/awards/william-g-fateley-student-award/ (accessed 2025-07-21).
- Kansas State University, In Memoriam: William G. Fateley. KSU.edu. Available at: https://www.k-state.edu/chem/news/more10.html (accessed 2025-07-23).
