Joseph Merola, professor emeritus of chemistry, has recently been named a 2025 Sigma Xi Fellow by the The Scientific Research Honor Society. Merola was named a fellow for his exceptional contributions to research, both in industry and academia, and for his leadership in his field.

The Scientific Research Honor Society recognized a distinguished cohort of 18 members this year as Sigma Xi Fellows. They were all awarded for sustained contributions to scientific research, leadership, and service to the Society.

The Fellows program of Sigma Xi recognizes members who have achieved exceptional results in research or engineering, demonstrated sustained scholarship and mentorship, and contributed significantly to the mission of the Society. This year’s cohort underscores the interdisciplinary strength of Sigma Xi’s membership, representing diverse fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and institutions across academia, government, and industry.

“Being named a Sigma Xi Fellow is one of the Society’s highest honors,” said Jamie Vernon, executive director and CEO of Sigma Xi. “Our Fellows exemplify the ideals of research excellence, integrity, and service that define Sigma Xi. Through their contributions, they advance scientific discovery and inspire the next generation of researchers.”

Merola came to the Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry in 1987 after an impactful nine years at the research laboratories at Exxon Research and Engineering Company. At this time, he was looking for ways that would allow him to continue his chemical research, but would also allow him to teach young minds — thus becoming a faculty member at Virginia Tech. 

He’s made a heavy impact in the department and beyond, as recognized in his fellowship, and effectively communicates chemistry and current science to broad audiences. He’s appeared in the “Ask the Experts” section for Scientific American and was invited regularly to speak on the AAAS Radio Program “Science Update.”

Merola’s research work focused on the study of organometallic chemistry, an area that bridges inorganic and organic disciplines for diverse applications. In his group, they took advantage of the properties of organometallic systems to study fundamental reaction chemistry, and to design novel catalyst systems.

Merola has published more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals and delivered more than 80 invited and contributed presentations on his research. Merola directed the research of 25 Ph.D. dissertations, master’s degree theses, undergraduate honors theses, and directed the research of more than 75 undergraduate students. In the classroom, he taught various courses in chemistry to undergraduate and graduate students.

Merola has received numerous awards and honors in addition to his Sigma Xi fellowship, including being awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Teaching Excellence multiple times. He also became a fellow of the American Chemical Society in 2019 and is also a fellow for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.