Six Urbana faculty members honored as University Scholars
Six faculty members at the Urbana campus have been chosen to be University Scholars. The program recognizes excellence while helping to identify and retain the university’s most talented teachers, scholars and researchers. Now in its 21st year, the program provides $10,000 to each scholar for each of three years to use to enhance his or her academic career. The money may be used for travel, equipment, research assistants, books or other purposes. Eight scholars also were recognized at the Chicago campus, including one recognized posthumously, and one scholar was recognized at the Springfield campus. “The designation, University Scholar, is the highest recognition we bestow on our faculty,” UI President B. Joseph White said in remarks at a recognition dinner Feb. 20 at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. “The awards are not made for a specific project or proposal; rather, they are a symbol of the recipient’s excellence and the university’s commitment to foster outstanding people and their work.” Since the program began in 1985, 451 scholars have been named and more than $10 million has been awarded to support their teaching and research. Funding for the program comes from private gifts to the Advancement Fund of the UI. The Urbana scholars, their departments and a summary of their expertise, according to the nominating documentation:
Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, curriculum and instruction Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, a professor of curriculum and instruction, joined the faculty in 2000. “His major research contributions involve conceptual and theoretical advances – and empirical findings – that have changed how researchers and teacher-educators view learner’s acquisition of knowledge related to science,” a nominator wrote. More than half of his refereed journal articles have appeared in the three most prestigious journals in the field of science education. He also has been recognized repeatedly for outstanding teaching.
Paul V. Braun, materials science and engineering Paul V. Braun, a professor of materials science and engineering, joined the faculty in 1999. His research involves a diverse complementary set of programs, including work in nanoscience, photonics, self-assembly, polymer chemistry and self-healing materials. His work has been published in leading journals, including Applied Physics Letters, Nature and Physical Review Letters. He also has been recognized by students, the department and the College of Engineering for excellence in teaching and advising.
Jie Chen, cell and developmental biology Jie Chen, a professor of cell and developmental biology, joined the faculty in 1997. She quickly established a research program at the UI that attained national recognition in cell signaling. Her research seeks to understand how chemical messages in the environment are decoded by a cascade of biochemical changes in cells that result in a change in the state of the cell. She also is an accomplished teacher, adviser and mentor of students.
Robert Ghrist, mathematics Robert Ghrist, a professor of mathematics, joined the faculty in 2002. “Robert Ghrist is a remarkably creative mathematician who is turning the world upside down by finding new real-world applications of mathematics,” a nominator wrote. “His singular strength is his ability to apply standard as well as cutting-edge techniques from topology, geometry and dynamics, to real-life problems in robotics, parabolic coupled dynamic system and hydrodynamics.” He repeatedly has been recognized by his students for excellence in teaching.
William Maxwell, English William Maxwell, a professor of English, joined the faculty in 1994. “William Maxwell is one of our most productive and accomplished younger faculty members,” a nominator wrote. “He already has published two books – a literary history and a pioneering scholarly edition of poetry.” He serves as director of graduate studies in the English department and frequently is listed among “Illinois Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students.”
Paul R. Selvin, physics Paul R. Selvin, a professor of physics, joined the faculty in 1997. “Paul is a superb experimentalist who works at the intersection of physics, biology and chemistry,” a nominator wrote. “He is noted for his pioneering work in single-molecule biophysics – specifically for his development of novel fluorescence tools to reveal, at the atomic scale, the structure and dynamics of biological molecules and molecular motors.” He is regularly listed among teachers ranked as excellent by their students.
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