Sharon Haynie, a DuPont senior research associate, has received the prestigious Percy L. Julian award from the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE ). 

Sharon became the first woman to receive the award because of her work focused on integrating biology with DuPont chemistry.  The Percy L. Julian Award in pure and applied chemistry, named for the African-American scientist who is notable for his synthesis of steroids from soy products which led to the discovery of cortisone, is the most prestigious award presented by NOBCChE.

"Sharon has worked at the interface of biology and materials science, executing DuPont's vision of integrated science leading to success in the marketplace," said Uma Chowdhry, senior vice president and chief science and technology officer.  "Sharon was a senior member of the team that developed the process for making Bio-PDO™ from renewable resources.  More recently, Sharon was a key member of the team that developed a biological route to a key intermediate for an aromatic polymer used in the electronics industry."

"My work is a reflection of my larger desire to do some good and find ways to be a better steward of our resources," Sharon said. "I am deeply humbled by this incredible honor and to have my name associated with Dr. Percy Lavon Julian."

Sharon, who joined DuPont in 1984, is a top contributor in the area of biocatalysis and metabolic engineering.  She is active in the American Chemical Society, for which she has served as chair of the Philadelphia Section and, for over a decade, has served as a mentor for disadvantaged youth through participation in programs such as Project SEED (Summer Employment for Economically Disadvantaged).  She is based at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Del.