Solar technologies and cellulose-based optics were among the research efforts honored by the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) and Outstanding Young Engineer (OYE) awards from the Maryland Academy of Sciences and Maryland Science Center. The annual awards program recognizes Maryland-based researchers who, early in their careers, have made substantial contributions to the fields of science and engineering. Dr. Marina Leite, a member of the University of Maryland materials science and engineering department and Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, received an OYS award for establishing and leading a laboratory at UMD that is devoted to the physics of photovoltaic materials and devices, nanoscale and nanostructured materials, and energy storage. Dr. Liangbing Hu, also a member of the materials science and engineering department at UMD College Park, was recognized with an OYE award for accomplishments including the development of a field of diverse applications built on cellulose, using it as a scaffold for various devices, from batteries and solar cells to electronics and optics. The other OYS award went to Dr. Jason Benkoski, a principal scientist at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) for work including paints with self-healing and corrosion protection properties with nano- and micromaterial innovations. Dr. Morgana Trexler, senior materials scientist and assistant group supervisor at the Research and Exploratory Development Department at Johns Hopkins APL, received the other OYE award. Her work focuses on biomaterials, applied nanomaterials and the computational modeling of mechanical behavior in materials. For more information, visit www.marylandsciencecenter.org.