Alina Stavroula Kampouri, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice University, has been named a recipient of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) 2026 35 Under 35 Award, which recognizes emerging leaders making significant contributions to the chemical engineering profession.
Presented every three years, the award recognizes 35 outstanding professionals under the age of 35 for their achievements and impact across research, industry, education and other areas of chemical engineering. Kampouri was selected in the Chemicals & Materials category for her work developing advanced materials with potential applications in sustainable energy technologies.
“I’m genuinely touched by this recognition,” Kampouri said. “What I love most about research is the opportunity to explore new ideas, discover the unexpected, and learn from the people around me. I’ve been fortunate to have wonderful mentors throughout my journey, and now to work with students and collaborators who make science so exciting and rewarding! I’m incredibly grateful to all of them.”
Kampouri's research at Rice focuses on the design and development of functional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous materials whose chemical and electronic properties can be tailored for specific applications. By understanding and controlling these properties, her research group aims to develop materials that address challenges in energy storage, energy conversion, and environmental sustainability.
Her work explores how these advanced materials can contribute to next-generation batteries, more efficient energy conversion technologies, and environmental remediation. Through this research, Kampouri and her team seek to establish new approaches to designing materials that support a more sustainable energy future.
“I find it fascinating how even small changes in a material’s chemistry at the molecular level can give rise to entirely new properties and behaviors,” Kampouri said. “That’s what drives our research: understanding these relationships and using that knowledge to design materials with specific functions. What’s especially exciting is the possibility of translating these fundamental discoveries into technologies that could make a difference in energy and sustainability.”
“Alina is an exceptionally creative young researcher whose work on MOFs is opening up new opportunities for designing materials with highly tunable properties,” said Lisa Biswal, chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice. “She brings both scientific rigor and an ambitious vision to her research. I am excited to see the directions her work will take in the years ahead. We are incredibly proud to have Alina as a colleague at Rice.”
To learn more about the recognition, visit the AIChE 35 Under 35 Award website.