2009                Laurea Honoris Causa: “Doctor in Letters,”  McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

 

2009                Keynote speaker for the Spring Convocation Address for the Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

 

2009            Participation upon invitation in the first National Science Foundation/Andrew W. Mellon Foundation sponsored workshop on "Chemistry and Materials Research at the Interface between Science and Art," Arlington, VA

 

2009                Awarded the Filippo Mazzei Prize “The Bridge,” by the American University of Rome

 

2008                Alumnus of the Year, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego

 

2008-2012        National Geographic Society Fellow

 

2007                Appointed Scientific Director for “The Battle of Anghiari” research project, by the Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Francesco Rutelli

 

2007                Alumnus of the year 2006, Alumni Association, University of California, San Diego

 

2005                Professional Achievement Award, Department of Bio-engineering, University of California, San Diego