ITHACA, N.Y. -- D. Tyler McQuade, assistant professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Cornell University, has won a $200,000 early career award from the New York State OfÞce of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) for research that strives to create polymers that mimic biological materials.

The award is one of 10, totaling $2 million, given by the research agency to scientists across the state who are performing their research in the life sciences, biomedical sciences or in other life science-enabling disciplines, such as materials science and chemistry.

The awards were made by NYSTAR under the James D. Watson Investigator Initiative, which is part of the $225 million Generating Employment through New York State Science (Gen*NY*sis) program, created to maximize the potential of life sciences research being conducted at New York state research institutions.

Russell W. Bessette, executive director of NYSTAR, said the awards "will encourage these early career biotechnology scientists to stay and conduct their critically important research here in New York state. In doing so, these scientists will be positioned to make the important advancements in biotechnology that will lead to the state's future economic growth."

McQuade said his research group makes small molecules and polymers that are designed to have a variety of functions, including catalysis (mimicking enzymes), recognition elements (mimicking antibodies), well-deÞned polymers (mimicking tendons) and highly responsive sensors (mimicking senses). "The fruits of my group's labor will hopefully produce, for example, sensors for detection of chemical warfare agents and in vivo catalysts for use as selective, low-dose drugs," he said. "The NYSTAR money will fund my most pragmatic projects with the goal of using the results of my research to create job opportunities for New Yorkers."

This is McQuade's third major award since joining the Cornell faculty last year. In April he won a Nontenured Faculty Award from 3M Co., and last fall he won a New Faculty Award from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation.