Banks receives 2026 Lydecker Student Research Award

Hayden Banks, a senior chemistry major from River Falls, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Drs. Ann and William Lydecker Student Research Award at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.  

Each year since 2011, the Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (URSCA) Office has recognized an outstanding undergraduate’s research efforts coupled with service to and/or involvement at UW-River Falls.   

The award was created by William (Bill) Lydecker, now deceased, to honor his late wife Ann, UWRF Chancellor from 2000-2004, who died in a car accident south of River Falls in March 2004. Ann was the university’s first woman Chancellor.  

Banks’ most recent research project involves testing catalysts—something that lowers the energy barrier of a chemical reaction—in a ball mill, which works like a paint shaker. His other work involved studying ways to make organic chemistry lab experiments greener and safer. He was selected to take part in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where his work focused on synthesizing ultra-thin materials called MXenes using a process called chemical vapor deposition, which builds materials one layer at a time. 

“I got into research because I wanted to gain experience in what it was like to use chemistry at a higher level,” Banks said. “The idea that I could use what I was learning to answer a question that no one knew the answer to was very exciting.” 

URSCA Director Molly Gerrish said Banks has been an active member of URSCA since his first year at UWRF.  

“He made it a point to seek us out as a freshman and look for ways to be involved and has been a wonderful leader, researcher and advocate throughout his entire time on campus,” Gerrish said. “He has been a member, officer, and ultimately, president of Student Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (SURSCA) and was a wonderful and active leader, helping his peers and colleagues with grant reviews, ongoing student recruitment and representing SURSCA and URSCA with great pride and enthusiasm.”  

“Hayden is also an extremely gifted researcher and has presented many times over the course of his time at UWRF, including at the prestigious Research in the Rotunda in Madison. He epitomizes leadership, advocacy, and scholarship,” shared Gerrish. 

Banks is pursuing a career as a research scientist in the area of inorganic chemistry. 

Photo: UW-River Falls senior Hayden Banks presents a research project at the 2026 Research in the Rotunda event at the Wisconsin State Capitol in March. Banks has been named this year’s recipient of the Drs. Ann and William Lydecker Student Research Award that recognizes an outstanding undergraduate’s research efforts combined with service to and/or involvement at UW-River Falls. UWRF photo.