{{Short description|American chemist and academic}} {{Orphan|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Amanda Morris | workplaces = Virginia Tech <br> Princeton University | alma_mater = Johns Hopkins University <br> Pennsylvania State University }} '''Amanda Morris''' is an American chemist who is the Patricia Caldwell Faculty Fellow and professor of inorganic and energy chemistry at Virginia Tech. Her research considers next-generation materials for catalysis and light-harvesting. She was elected chair of the American Chemical Society Gay and Transgender Chemists and Allies committee in 2021.
== Early life and education == Morris was an undergraduate at Pennsylvania State University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amanda Morris Professor and Associate Chair |url=https://experts.vt.edu/1299-amanda-morris |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=experts.vt.edu}}</ref> She moved to Johns Hopkins University for doctoral research, where she worked alongside Gerald Meyer.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} In 2009, Morris joined Princeton University and the laboratory of Andrew B. Bocarsly.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
== Research and career == Morris makes use of photo-electrochemistry to understand new materials for renewable energy. She has created photosynthetic systems for solar harvesting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooksley |first=Katherine |title=Amanda Morris - Energy from sunlight {{!}} Modern Chemistry Podcast |url=https://helgroup.com/podcasts/amanda-morris-energy-from-sunlight/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=H.E.L Group |language=en-GB}}</ref> Morris has proposed metal–organic frameworks as light harvesters and high surface-area catalysts. Metal organic frameworks are stable solid state organic-inorganic hybrid materials. The high surface areas mean that they can improve their catalytic activity. Her early research looked to understand how to control the optical and electronic properties of metal organic frameworks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Dr. Morris receives a NSF Career Award! – Amanda Morris Group |date=February 2016 |url=https://ajmorrisgroup.chem.vt.edu/2016/02/01/dr-morris-receives-a-nsf-career-award/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |language=en-US}}</ref> She studied how electrons were transported through metal organic frameworks, and how to design MOFs that showed efficient photo-induced charge transport.<ref name=":0" />
Morris served as co-chair of the Virginia Tech LGBT Staff Caucus, where she led efforts to expand the university's non-discrimination clause to protect people from gender minorities.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Candidate Bios – 2021 |url=https://acsprof.org/candidate_bios/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=acsprof.org |language=en-US}}</ref> She also led efforts to install gender inclusive restrooms and use preferred names on university records.<ref name=":1" /> Morris was the first academic advisor of oSTEM at Virginia Tech.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Amanda Morris receives Presidential Principles of Community Award |url=https://vtx.vt.edu/content/vtx_vt_edu/en/articles/2018/04/facstaff-morris-poc-award.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=vtx.vt.edu |language=en}}</ref> She was elected chair of the American Chemical Society Gay and Transgender Chemists and Allies (GTCA) committee in 2021. She was made head of the department of chemistry in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amanda Morris appointed chair of Department of Chemistry |url=https://vtx.vt.edu/content/vtx_vt_edu/en/articles/2022/08/science-amanda_morris_chair_chemistry.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=vtx.vt.edu |language=en}}</ref> Beyond her own research, she uses her laboratory to enhance the curriculum of the Roanoke City Public Schools.<ref name=":2" />
== Awards and honors == * Jimmy W. Viers Teaching Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spring 2019 Elements by Corrin - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/corrinlin/docs/spring_19_elements |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=issuu.com |date=11 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> * Patricia Caldwell Faculty Fellow<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prof. Amanda Morris appointed Patricia Caldwell Faculty Fellow |url=https://chem.vt.edu/content/chem_vt_edu/en/about-us/news/2019-09-24-morris-faculty-fellow.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=chem.vt.edu |language=en}}</ref> * Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amanda Morris |url=http://www.nasonline.org/programs/kavli-frontiers-of-science/frontiers-alumni/alumni-directory/amanda_morris.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=www.nasonline.org}}</ref> * Inter-American Photochemical Society Young Investigator Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awards - I-APS |url=https://i-aps.org/awards/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=i-aps.org |language=en-US}}</ref> * John C. Schug Research Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elements Fall 2019 by Corrin - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/corrinlin/docs/fall_2019_elements_final |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=issuu.com |date=17 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> * Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amanda Morris named a young leader in chemical sciences by Dreyfus Foundation |url=https://vtx.vt.edu/content/vtx_vt_edu/en/articles/2016/05/science-amandamorrisdreyfushonor.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=vtx.vt.edu |language=en}}</ref> * Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amanda Morris awarded with 2016 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in chemistry |url=https://vtx.vt.edu/content/vtx_vt_edu/en/articles/2016/02/022316-science-amandamorrissloanaward.html |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=vtx.vt.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginia: Amanda Morris awarded with 2016 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in chemistry |url=https://worldcat.org/en/title/6180310084 |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=worldcat.org}}</ref> * NSF CAREER Award Recipient<ref name=":0" /> * Presidential Principles of Community Award<ref name=":2" /> * College of Science Diversity Award<ref name=":2" /> * Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2018-11-13 |title=Journal of Materials Chemistry A profiles: Contributors to the Emerging Investigators 2018 issue |url=https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/ta/c8ta90238k |journal=Journal of Materials Chemistry A |language=en |volume=6 |issue=44 |pages=21641–21653 |doi=10.1039/C8TA90238K |issn=2050-7496|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== Selected publications == * {{Cite Q|Q33516369}} * {{Cite Q|Q44992883}} * {{Cite Q|Q48363681}}
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Amanda}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American women chemists Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni Category:21st-century American chemists Category:Virginia Tech faculty Category:21st-century American women scientists