Jia Grace Lu, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at the University of California, Irvine, today was named one of the nation’s most promising young scientists and engineers by the Bush administration.

Lu, who works in the field of spin electronics, was selected along with 56 other researchers to receive the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

The awards were to be conferred today at the White House by John Marburger III, the president’s science adviser.

Lu has "advanced the frontiers of knowledge in spin electronics, considered to be the defining concept of 21st century electronics," the administration said in a statement.

Spin electronics is used to make electronic devices faster.

"Her work combines concepts in faster, more-reliable electronics with nanotechnology," the statement said.

Lu was praised for passing on her research knowledge through education programs and outreach to high school students in physics, materials science and nanoscience.