Dr. Louis J. Allamandola, working with the Astrophysics
& Astrochemistry Laboratory Group and a member of the
NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database Team, is the 2019
recipient of the PAC Research Award. This award is
presented to a researcher who has made major contributions
to research related to PACs (Polycyclic Aromatic
Compounds). Specifically, Dr. Allamandola is being
recognized for "having blazed a trail that furthers our
understanding of PAHs in outer space, as such PAHs and
Astrophysics is now one of the most dynamic study areas
related to PAHs". The prize was presented to
Dr. Allamandola during the 2019 International Symposium on
Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (ISPAC) held at Örebro
University in Örebro, Sweden. Dr. Allamandola’s past
honors include being named one of the 25 most influential
people in space by TIME magazine and recipient of a
Presidential Rank Award. His work currently focuses on
preparing the data and tools necessary to analyze and
interpret the PAH signatures to be observed by the James
Webb Space Telescope, which is being supported through a
NASA Directed Work Package titled: "Laboratory
Astrophysics – The NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic
Database". The conference website is located at
www.oru.se/english/schools/science-and-technology/conferenses/ispac-september-9-12-2019.