Awards & Honors

Northwestern University Department of Chemistry established the Omar Farha Award for Research Leadership “awarded for stewardship, cooperation and leadership in the finest pursuit of research in chemistry.” This award will be given annually to an outstanding research scientist working in the department. (Northwestern University, September 2011)

  • “Highly Cited Researchers in Chemistry” (Clarivate Analytics, 2023)
  • Herman Pines Award (Catalysis Club of Chicago, 2023)
  • UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry Alumni Award (2023)
  • “2022 Illinois Researchers to Know” (Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, 2022)
  • “Highly Cited Researchers in Chemistry” (Clarivate Analytics, 2022)
  • Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professorship (2022)
  • “Top 100 World’s Most Highly-Cited Chemists, Farha is #35” (Research.com, 2022)
  • “Highly Cited Researchers in Chemistry” (Clarivate Analytics, 2021)
  • Inaugural recipients of the American Association for Advances in Functional Materials (AAAFM)-Stoddart award (UCLA, 2021)
  • 2021 Barrer Lectureship (Pennsylvania State University, 2021)
  • “Highly Cited Researchers in Chemistry” (Clarivate Analytics, 2020)
  • Elected as Fellow of the Academy of Arab Scientists (AAS, 2020)
  • 2020 American Chemical Society Energy and Fuels Division Emerging Researcher Award (ACS ENFL, 2020)
  • Appointed to the Dow Chemical Company Research Professorship in Chemistry (Northwestern University, 2020)
  • Elected as Foreign Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc, 2020)
  • Named by Web of Science as a “Highly Cited Researcher” (Web of Science Group, 2019)
  • 2019 Kuwait Prize for Applied Sciences (Kuwait Foundaiton for the Advancement of Sciences, 2019)
  • JSCC International Award for Creative Work (Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry, 2019)
  • Named 2019 Makhlouf Haddadin Lecturer (The American University of Beirut, 2019)
  • Named by Clarivate Analytics and Web of Science a “Highly Cited Researcher in Chemistry” (Clarivate Analytics, 2018)
  • Named the 2018 Summer Lecturer (University of Wyoming, 2018)
  • Elected as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2017)
  • Named by Clarivate Analytics One of the “Highly Cited Researchers in Chemistry” (Clarivate Analytics, 2017)
  • The Satinder Ahuja Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science (ACS, Pittcon, 2017)
  • Named by Thomson Reuters one of the “Highly Cited Researchers”, (Thomson Reuters, 2016)
  • Named the “Kavli Emerging Leader Lecturer” for the ACS National Meeting in Philadelphia (Kavli Foundation/ACS, 2016)
  • Named the 2016 RSC CryEngComm Lecturer (RSC, 2016)
  • Published in the “2015 Worlds Most Influential Scientific Minds” Book, (Thomson Reuters, 2015)
  • Named by Thomson Reuters One of the “Highly Cited Researchers”, (Thomson Reuters, 2015)
  • Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division Early Career Award (RSC, 2015)
  • Named the 2015 Hawthorne Lecturer (UCLA, 2015)
  • Named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC, 2015)
  • Published in the “2014 Worlds Most Influential Scientific Minds” Book, (Thomson Reuters, 2014)
  • Named by Thomson Reuters One of the “Highly Cited Researchers”, (Thomson Reuters, 2014)
  • NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell, August 24, (The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, Rice University, 2012)
  • Selected as one of the Chemical Entrepreneurs, THE BOSS, Chemical & Engineering News, August 20, page 52 (C&EN, 2012)
  • Award for innovation and leadership presented by Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management Dean Sally Blount for pursuing global prosperity and as an outstanding example of innovation and leadership at Northwestern University (Northwestern University, 2012)
  • Award for Research Leadership (Northwestern University, 2011)
  • Safety Award Northwestern Safety Award presented by Northwestern University President Morton Shapiro in recognition and appreciation for heroic service to the Northwestern community in a time of crisis (Northwestern University, 2011)
  • NSF-NSEC recognition of major contribution to the advancement of nanoscience and nanotechnology research and educational programs (Northwestern University, 2010)
  • NSF-NSEC Outstanding Researcher (Northwestern University, 2008)
  • Inorganic Chemistry Dissertation of the Year (UCLA, 2006)
  • NSF Graduate Student Fellowship (UCLA, 2003-2006)
  • Excellence in Academics and Research-First Year Graduate Student (UCLA, 2002-2003)
  • Merck Index Award (UCLA, 2001)
  • Albert Williams Scholarship (Fullerton College, 1999 and 1998)
  • Fullerton College Man of the Year (Fullerton College, 1998)
  • Mu Omicron Delta Award (Fullerton College, 1998)
  • Organic Chemistry Student of the Year (Fullerton College,1998)
  • Outstanding Chemistry Student of the Year (ACS-Orange County Section, 1998)
  • Inorganic Chemistry Student of the Year (Fullerton College, 1997)