Mississippi State University chemist Colleen Scott has been selected for the Bayh-Dole Coalition’s 2026 American Innovator Award, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors given annually to researchers whose federally funded work leads to real-world impact.

Past honorees include developers of mRNA vaccine technology, once-a-day HIV treatments and vision-restoring glasses.

Scott, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Chemistry, was nominated by U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith for her patented research developing a shortwave infrared, or SWIR, dye for the visualization of cancer cells. Her award-winning technology enables safe, high-resolution deep tissue visualization by operating at lower energy levels than traditional imaging methods. Her technology is geared to selectively target cancer cells, allowing clinicians to more clearly identify tumor boundaries.

“Dr. Scott’s unwavering determination has driven her pioneering work in shortwave infrared dyes, opening new possibilities for surgeons to detect and remove cancer with greater precision,” said Joseph P. Allen, executive director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. “Her story exemplifies exactly what Sens. Bayh and Dole sought to create through the Bayh-Dole Act – a system for federally funded discoveries from institutions like Mississippi State to be translated into real-world technologies that improve patient outcomes and save lives.”

“The American Innovator Award recognizes how careful fundamental research can grow into technology that can be paradigm changing, in this case impacting the way we do things in health diagnostics and imaging,” said Carl Lovely, head of MSU’s chemistry department. “Dr. Scott’s excitement, motivation and drive to create and apply new knowledge is an inspiration for all of us in the department and at MSU.”

Scott said, “This award is a tremendous honor and a validation of the hard work of my team and students. I hope it inspires the next generation of scientists and provides more opportunities to advance research that improves human health, technology and everyday life.”

Scott’s MSU research focuses on advanced organic materials with applications ranging from biomedical devices and imaging to electronics, adhesives, coatings and aerospace materials.

Her career has earned numerous distinctions. She received the NSF CAREER Award in 2020 for her work on heterocyclic aryldiamine polymers, a $675,000 grant supporting early-career faculty demonstrating excellence in research and education. She also was recognized at the 2022 TechConnect World Innovation Conference for her NIR-II dye research in biological imaging and optoelectronics and was named an MSU Mid-Career Research Scholar in 2023.

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Scott earned her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh.
Since joining MSU in 2015, she has mentored students, integrated hands-on learning for K-12 students through her “Science with Dr. Scott” outreach program and contributed to research that enhances both technology and education in Mississippi and beyond.