Thank you, outgoing Recognition Program Committee (RPC) Members

In our continued celebration of Volunteer Week, today, we would like to thank the Recognition Program Committee. This committee provides direction for the AOCS Awards Program and advises the Governing Board on all policies, rules, and procedures for over 50 awards and honors, including Society, Scientific, Division, Student and Poster Competition Awards. Each award acknowledges a leader who works passionately to further the science of fats and oils, by working toward new and innovative applications.

We want to particularly thank this committee’s outgoing members:


Moghis U. Ahmad, Jina Pharmaceuticals, Inc., USA has been a member of AOCS since 1979 and has been incredibly active in several capacities. Here we would like to particularly thank him for his service as a Recognition Program Committee Chairperson from 2017 to 2020 and before that as a Recognition Program Committee Member from 2012 to 2016. His involvement in this committee is multi-faceted as he led at least two Recognition Program Committee Business meetings each year, reviewed new award proposals, and identified people to join a specific award selection committee. Moghis has also merited the honor of being named an AOCS fellow in 2014, in recognition of his service.

Dharma R. Kodali, University of Minnesota, USA has been a member of AOCS since 1982 and a member of the Recognition Program Committee from 2017 to 2020. We are grateful for his input in his three years of service. In 2010, he was named an AOCS fellow in recognition of his contributions to the society.

Each year, volunteers are needed to evaluate the nomination packages. In fact, about 200 volunteers are needed to review AOCS Award nominations, including the many Division and Student Awards.

All evaluations are done online, primarily during the months of August and October, taking an average of 6 to 8 hours to complete. We find that successful evaluators are often AOCS presenters, authors, editors.



Anyone interested in volunteering should complete this form and choose “Awards committee.” Alternatively, you can contact the incoming RPC Chairperson, Shireen S. Baseeth, ADM to get involved.