2015 Awardees

Scott Berceli is a clinical vascular surgeon, who uses vein bypass grafting to treat arterial occlusive disease. While this procedure is highly effective at re-establishing normal perfusion, the longevity of this ...

K.V. Chalam’s research efforts have focused on clinical, translational, and basic science, pertinent to solve common ocular problems including diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration. Chalam’s body of work spans ...

Martin Cohn’s research focuses on how embryonic development is regulated at the molecular genetic level. His interests in developmental biology include the causes of structural birth defects in children and ...

Michelle Danyluk’s work primarily focuses on Salmonella in produce, produce production environments and processed produce products, and the subsequent implications for public health. Her research program aims to address how and ...

Jennifer Elder has spent over 30 years studying autism and related child neuropsychiatric disorders.  Much of her family-focused work examines methods of educating families, enhancing family cohesion, and reducing caregiver ...

Kitty Emery is an environmental archaeologist whose research focuses on the ancient relationship between the Maya peoples and their megadiverse landscape.  Emery’s specialties are the analysis of animal remains from ...

Robert Fletcher believes that understanding how ongoing environmental change influences wildlife populations and biodiversity is crucial for both short-term and long-term management and conservation plans. Fletcher aims to develop, test, and ...

Bin Gao’s research mainly lies in three areas:  applying emerging technologies to improve water quality and environmental sustainability, developing high-efficiency and low-cost adsorbents for wastewater treatment and for environmental remediation, ...

Zhenli He’s research addresses issues related to sustainable agriculture and surface water quality, including development of best management practices to enhance nutrient use efficiency while minimizing environmental impact, phytoremediation of ...

Technology has forever altered the very nature of how we can create and look at painting, altering what painting is, and what painting can be. Richard Heipp is interested in ...

The focus of Roland Herzog’s research program is to develop gene therapies for hemophilia and to establish novel immune tolerance protocols, with the ultimate goal to accomplish lasting therapy without ...

A major research focus for Richard Johnson has been on the development of a model for the study of spinal cord injury/peripheral nerve injury and the resultant disruption of neuronal ...

Andreas Keil studies the way the human brain and body adapt to environmental challenges over time, on the scale of milliseconds, minutes, hours, days, and across the lifespan. Understanding these ...

Benjamin Keselowsky’s research has a major focus on the development of innovative vaccines for type 1 diabetes, by formulating biodegradable microparticles and gels to deliver immune modulating factors to key ...

Shani King’s research and writing is in the areas of children’s rights and family law, with a particular focus on the role of child’s counsel in various contexts. More generally, ...

W. Robert Knechel is one of the leading, internationally recognized scholars in the field of auditing. Knechel’s work is frequently cited in discussions of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board ...

Walter Leite’s current research program consists of developing and evaluating statistical methods to strengthen causal inference and understanding of causal mechanisms using non-experimental data. Leite investigates innovative application of these methods ...

Ellen Martin is a paleoceanographer and paleoclimatologist whose research focuses on developing and applying geologic proxies to study variations in ocean circulation and continental weathering through time in order to ...

Forrest Masters’ research focuses on the impact of hurricanes on the built environment, with emphasis on advancing damage mitigation strategies and building product innovation. Masters conducts experiments in (1) extreme wind ...

Vasudha Narayanan studies global Hindu traditions, focusing on Hindu art, texts, and performances in South India, Cambodia, and the United States. Currently, Narayanan is working in two major areas: 1) understanding ...

Sara Jo Nixon’s research program requires an integration of models and methods from cognitive neuroscience, cognitive science, and psychology.  She aims to clarify the underlying processes compromised with substance use/dependence, ...

Folakemi Odedina’s research program focuses on sociobehavioral predictors of health disparities and cost-effective, community-based behavioral interventions to improve the health of black men, globally.  Her long-term goal is to eliminate ...

John Palmer’s area of specialization is ancient Greek philosophy, with a particular focus on early Greek philosophy and Plato. He is the author of numerous articles and reviews as well as ...

Carolynn Patten’s research focuses on understanding the neural basis of human movement with the overriding goal of elucidating mechanisms of movement dysfunction in neuropathologies. Her current work seeks to determine ...

Zhong-Ren Peng studies the emerging field of adaptation planning for climate change, as well as transportation and land use planning. Peng’s research on planning for climate change mainly focuses on vulnerability ...

Gary Peter is an expert in forest biotechnology, genetics, wood properties, and wood utilization. His research program addresses both the fundamental aspects of the genetic and environmental regulation of tree ...

Scott Powers’ research focuses upon the effects of muscular exercise and inactivity on redox signaling, gene expression, and contractile function of both cardiac and skeletal muscle. Specifically, the Powers laboratory ...

Andrew Rinzler is a condensed matter experimental physicist. He has worked at the interface between physics, chemistry, and materials science, carrying out research on carbon nanotubes, a form of carbon ...

José E.P. Santos studies the biology of pregnancy in cattle and development of methods to improve production, peripartum health, and fertility of dairy cattle. An important element of Santos’ research is ...

Elizabeth Shenkman’s research focuses on two primary goals: 1) determining which combinations of health care delivery, community, and patient factors influence quality and outcomes of care; and 2) developing corresponding, ...

Tamir Sorek’s scholarly interests center on the processes in which ethnic and national identities are produced. In his work, Sorek aspires to bridge the gap in sociology between quantitative positivistic ...

Shannon Wallet’s research is focused on mechanisms associated with altered innate immune functions, which lead to dysregulated adaptive immunity.  Through her independent and collaborative research programs, she has been involved, ...

Wayne Wanta’s research focuses on political communication, visual communication, sports communication, and social media. Wanta studies media effects, related to political communication.  He has completed dozens of projects examining the agenda-setting ...

Jason Weaver’s research focuses on determining molecular mechanisms of gas-solid reactions, emphasizing systems that are important in heterogeneous catalysis. Key topics on which Weaver has focused include the mechanisms for Pt ...