Mexican Engineer Moisés Carreón to be Awarded by President Obama

Mexican engineer Moisés Carreón, a graduate of the Michoacán University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo, will be one of the 102 young researchers that will be honored by the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Carreón, a chemical engineer, was included on the White House's list of the 102 most prominent researchers in the U.S., and will receive the "Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers" from President Obama, the top award given by the U.S. government to young engineers and scientists.

According to a press release from the White House, the 102 researchers to be awarded have stood out for being professionals "committed to generating scientific and technical progress which will ensure the global leadership of the U.S. for a long time."

Born in Morelia, Michoacán, Carreón will become the second Mexican chemist to receive an award from President Obama in less than a year.

On Nov. 20, Mexican scientist Mario Molina (1995 Nobel Chemistry Prize) received the Medal of Freedom — the highest award given by the U.S. government — for his distinguished trajectory in chemistry and his efforts in support of the environment, reported NBC.

According to El Universal, 39-year-old Carreón said he felt lucky to win this award and said there are many distinguished scientists in various branches of chemistry and engineering that deserve the award.

The specialists in porous crystal design took the opportunity to send a message to young Mexican students.

"Be persistent, set high goals for yourselves, dream tall, work hard and with discipline. I think this is the best way to complete small objectives, big objectives," Carreón said.

Moisés Carreón obtained a Master's Degree from the Michoacán University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo and in 1999 he moved to the U.S. to continue his studies in chemical engineering. In 2003 he obtained a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. He currently works in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering of the Colorado School of the Mines.