spectroscopy, nanochemistry, and cancer diagnosis and has potential impact on disease prevention; and (2) Analyzing laser induced breakdown spectra of Martian oils, dust and rocks. The data is collected through the Chemistry Camera (ChemCam) instrument on board the 1-ton Curiosity Rover launched on November 25, 2011, and landed successfully on the red planet on August 6, 2012. Recognition Melikechi is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards: DSU's President's Excellence in Research Awards (1998 and 2008), the 2005 SMART (Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow) Capitol Hill Forum's "Executive Directors Collaboration Award", an award he received "In recognition for continuing efforts to improve and increase Science and Technology collaboration among the technical community in the SMART Region and to further the growth and development of the SMART initiative", The Department of Defense Small Business Initiative for Research Award (1997), The National Institutes of Health Small Business Initiative for Research Award (2002), the 2010 DSU New Castle Chapter Alumina Award, The 2011 "Appreciation Award" from the National Federation of Canadian Muslims, the 2012 Biotechnology Award, the NASA Group Award for his work on ChemCam. In 2011, Governor Jack Markell of Delaware named Melikechi the "Delaware Ambassador to Mars" in recognition for his work on space science. and in 2013, Melikechi was named the George and Carolyn Arfken Scholar in residence by Miami University, Oxford, OH. Melikechi is a Fellow of The Optical Society of America, now Optica; of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the American Physical Society. Awards and honors 2016 - Fellow of the Optical Society of America 2014 – Excellence Award for Youth Empowerment and Development in Africa, the "African Society for Engineering Management" 2013 – NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam Instrument Development and Science Team, NASA 2013 – Arfken Scholar-in-Residence, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 2012 – International Science Award, US-Algerian Business Council 2012 – Academic Research Award, the Delaware Bioscience Association 2011 – Named Delaware's "Ambassador to Mars" by Delaware Governor, The Honorable Jack Markell 2010 – Citizen of Science Award, El Moustakbel Youth Foundation, Algeria References External links Video: Dr. Noureddine Melikechi - FIKRA Conference 2014 - "Fighting for Cancer on Earth & Searching for Life on Mars" Video: Dr. Noureddine Melikechi talks Algerian Research OSCAR Official Site NASA Official Site Mars Laboratory Team Member Bio - N. Melikechi NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Thenia, Algeria University Houari Boumediene 1958 births