Our Alumni Award Winners

Beginning in 2017, the Department of Chemistry has solicited nominations for two UBC Chemistry alumni awards: the Alumni Award of Distinction Award and the Young Alumnus Award. Nominations are requested between September and October of each year and reviewed by the Alumni Awards Adjudication Committee in advance of our fall Alumni Event. Alumni Award winners are announced at our Fall Alumni event and the awards are presented at our Spring Alumni event.

All living UBC alumni are eligible. Posthumous nominations will not be considered.

Alumni Award of Distinction

This award recognizes an alumnus with an extended track-record of accomplishments that are of such excellence that they provide inspiration and leadership to students and other alumni. The recipient has shown significant leadership either in their professional career and/or community service.

Young Alumnus Award

This award recognizes a young alumnus whose accomplishments provide inspiration and leadership to students and other young alumni. The recipient has shown significant leadership either in their professional career and/or community service. To be eligible for this award, the nominee should be have received their BSc ≤ 15 years, their MSc ≤ 12 years, their PhD ≤ 10 years, or ≤ 5 years as a PDF (not including leaves).

UBC Alumni Builder Award

Created in 2017 as part of the 100th year of alumni UBC, the Alumni Builder Awards recognize a cross-section of alumni representing both campuses who have significantly contributed to the university and enriched the lives of others, and in doing so, have supported alumni UBC’s vision of a global alumni community for an exceptional UBC and a better world. The recipient has made significant contributions to the university; demonstrated leadership in the areas of volunteerism, philanthropy, advocacy, or community service beyond the performance of the individual’s normal duties or the exercise of the responsibilities of a profession to which that individual belongs; and in doing so, helped build stronger, more resilient UBC community through their contribution. The Department of Chemistry is proud to have two alumni members receive this award to date.

2023 Alumni Award Winners

Dr. Love-Ese Chile, BSc '17
Young Alumnus Award

Dr. Mark Namchuk, PhD '93
Alumni Award of Distinction

Alumni Award of Distinction

Dr. Mark Namchuk is the Puja and Samir Kaul Professor of the Practice of Biomedical Innovation and Translation at Harvard Medical School. He Joined HMS is 2020 as the inaugural Executive Director of the school’s Therapeutics initiative and was appointed as the first Professor of the Practice at HMS in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology in 2021. The therapeutics initiative looks to accelerate the progression of discoveries at HMS from breakthrough biological insight towards a medicine and includes a scientific core to support drug discovery efforts and an on-campus biotech incubator. The initiative also aims to train the inventors of tomorrow’s medicines and includes the therapeutics graduate program for PhD students and a masters in therapeutic sciences that will be launched in 2025.

Namchuk joined HMS after a 24-year research and development career in biotech. In 2015, he joined Alkermes as SVP of research and nonclinical and pharmaceutical development. Previously, he held a number of research positions over a 17 year career at Vertex including SVP of Research. During his time in biotech he played a key scientific or leadership role in drug discovery efforts that led to 25 clinical candidates across 8 different therapeutic areas, with numerous first in class molecules progressing to the clinic. To date these programs have led to six approved drugs and an additional molecule in active Phase 3 clinical development.

Namchuk obtained a BSc with honours in chemistry from the University of Alberta, a PhD in bio-organic chemistry from the University of British Columbia and was an HFSP post-doctoral fellow at UCSF.

Young Alumnus Award

Dr. Love-Ese Chile is the Managing Owner of the circular economy research and consulting firm Regenerative Waste Labs. With her scientific background, Love-Ese has taken her expertise into the industry and is passionate about mobilizing her knowledge into initiatives to build climate resilience in Canadian communities. Recently named a 2024 Clean50 Emerging Leader, Love-Ese leads a team at the intersection of bioproducts, circular economy policy and organic waste recovery. She engages in projects to implement initiatives that add value to businesses and organizations that generate large volumes of organic waste. Love-Ese has worked with regional governments, NGOs and businesses to facilitate action that drives the use and recovery of circular bioproducts within the Canadian economy.