ENGINEERING
Shen Dillon, a professor of materials science and engineering, has been selected as the 2015 recipient of the American Ceramic Society’s Robert L. Coble Award for Young Scholars. The award recognizes outstanding scientists who are conducting research in academia, industry or government-funded laboratories.
Jianming Jin, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, won the Chen-To Tai Distinguished Educator Award from the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society. The award was established “to recognize outstanding career achievements by a distinguished educator in the field of antennas and propagation,” according to the society.
Marco Panesi, a professor of aerospace engineering, and Kelly Stephani, a professor of mechanical science and engineering, were recently selected as two of eight recipients for the NASA Early Career Faculty Award. Panesi was chosen for his project “Reduced Order Modeling for Non-equilibrium Radiation Hydrodynamics of Base Flow and Wakes: Enabling Manned Missions to Mars.” Stephani’s proposal, “A Phase-Space Coupled Hybrid Framework for Combined Continuum/Rarefied High Speed Flows,” focuses on NASA’s programmatic need for advanced aerothermodynamics modeling capabilities. Funded by the Space Technology Research Grants Program, the grants are awarded to accredited U.S. universities on behalf of outstanding faculty researchers early in their careers.
SURVEY RESEARCH LABORATORY
During a ceremony at the Survey Research Laboratory on the Urbana campus earlier this month, four doctoral students were honored for the quality of their work utilizing survey research methodology. The two winners of the 2015 Robert Ferber and Seymour Sudman Dissertation Awards were presented with $2,000 awards and plaques commemorating their achievement. Two other students each received an honorable mention certificate and a check for $200. Ferber and Sudman, in whose memory the awards were established, were eminent scholars at the U. of I. in the field of survey research.
Dongying Li, a Ph.D. candidate in the department of landscape architecture, is the winner of the Robert Ferber Dissertation Award. Her dissertation, “Space-Time Access to Green Space and Adolescent Stress: Questions of Constraints and Equity,” examines access to green space and adolescent stress using a space-time accessibility framework. The results of this study could provide the rationale for developing restorative environments that help adolescents recover from and build resilience to stress.
Katherine Ann Magerko, a Ph.D. candidate in the department of human and community development, is the winner of the Seymour Sudman Dissertation Award. Her dissertation, “Healthy Hearts in Family Child Care: What is the Current State of Provider Health?” will study the health of family child care providers using a combination of survey, direct observations and biological measures. Recognizing that child care providers can positively or negatively impact children’s health, studying the health of the care givers provides a target for intervention to improve child health.
Kaye Usry, a Ph.D. candidate in the department of political science, received the Robert Ferber Honorable Mention for her dissertation, “The Consequences of Traumatic Life Experiences for Civic Engagement.”
Stephanie Timm, a Ph.D. candidate in the department of urban and regional planning, received the Seymour Sudman Honorable Mention for her dissertation, “Learning from Singapore: The Role of Cultural and Behavioral Factors in Sustainable Water Planning.”
VETERINARY MEDICINE
Eight faculty and staff members and one graduate student at the U. of I. College of Veterinary Medicine received awards for service excellence at a Sept. 22 ceremony. The awards were presented by Peter Constable, the dean of the college.
Shari Poruba, a veterinary technician of ophthalmology, received the Shirley Seets Award for Staff Excellence for demonstrated excellence in job performance and service.
Justin Lancaster, a veterinary technician in anesthesiology, received the Dr. Robert and Lucy Graham Award for a staff member who has made outstanding contributions.
Alan Upchurch, a coordinator in audiovisual services, received the Terry and Judy Rathgeber Academic Professional Excellence Award for outstanding performance by an academic professional staff member.
Dr. Daniel Dorbandt, a veterinary resident in ophthalmology, received the Dr. Walter E. Hoffmann and Dr. Ann L. Johnson Resident Teaching Excellence Award for an outstanding graduate student or resident in training for a specialty board recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Jing Yang, a professor of comparative biosciences, received the Zoetis Animal Health Award for Research Excellence, presented to a current faculty member who shows promise of attaining or has already attained national recognition.
Dr. Gordon and Mrs. Helen Kruger Excellence Awards in four categories are given to college faculty members:
- Anne Barger, a clinical professor of pathobiology and the assistant director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, received the teaching award in recognition of an instructor who presents material with enthusiasm, dedication, clarity and creativity.
- Laura Garrett, a clinical professor and head of the oncology service as well as chief of staff of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, received the service award for outstanding committee work, clinical service and continuing education.
- CheMyong “Jay” Ko, a professor of comparative biosciences, received the research award in recognition of quality and quantity of publications, research awards, and outside recognition of the nominee’s work.
- Jodi Flaws, a professor of comparative biosciences, received the all-around excellence award, presented to a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching, research and service.
