Michael Pluth's exploration of roles of hydrogen sulfide in biology and health is getting a boost from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation.

Pluth, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was among 13 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholars for 2016 who were named in May.

"It is a great honor to receive this recognition from the Dreyfus Foundation," Pluth said. "It is particularly rewarding because it is one of the few awards that recognizes both research and teaching endeavors at a high level. On the research front, this award will make it easier to try high-risk, high-reward ideas that aren’t directly tied to federally funded research projects."

The award will allow him to work with the students in his lab to explore potentially beneficial offshoot avenues in his research that might otherwise not be tried, he said. In terms of teaching, Pluth said, he hopes to incorporate active learning techniques into undergraduate courses and laboratory curriculum in conjunction with the department's overall objectives.

Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar awards are given to faculty members in the early years of their academic careers, based on their early scholarship and commitment to education. Each recipient receives an unrestricted research grant of $75,000.

Since its inception in 1970, the foundation's teacher-scholar program has awarded more than $45 million to support emerging young leaders in the chemical sciences.

Pluth is the 11th UO faculty member to receive a Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar award. Shannon Boettcher was selected in 2015.

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, based in New York, is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of the chemical sciences. It was established in 1946 by chemist, inventor and businessman Camille Dreyfus in honor of his brother Henry.