Sept. 5, 2013
Megan J. Dailey
an assistant professor of animal sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (biology), Georgia State University; post-baccalaureate study (psychology), University of Pennsylvania; B.A. (psychology), University of South Florida
Courses teaching: ANSC 222, Anatomy and Physiology, one of four foundation courses for all animal sciences students. She also will develop a physiology course to broaden the physiology training of upper-level undergraduate students.
Research interests: Her research will help scientists understand nutrient sensing in obese and lean individuals, as well as provide an understanding of the mechanisms responsible for cellular adaption in the intestine. The broader impact is in finding a therapy for intestinal disorders that include Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and cancer.
"We hired Megan because of her strong discovery research training and her abilities to work across disciplines in multiple departments," said Doug Parrett, the interim head and a professor of animal sciences. "Her research associated with obesity and brain-to-gut metabolism is a great fit for animal sciences and also human health issues. She also has great enthusiasm for teaching and has experience in developing new and engaging teaching strategies that will benefit our students. I particularly like her high energy level and her great ability to engage others in topics and projects."
Why Illinois? "I chose to be a part of U. of I. because the faculty, staff and students set the university apart from other academic institutions," Dailey said. "Faculty members are passionate about their jobs and creative in their research endeavors. The university is continuing efforts to improve teaching and enhance the learning environment of the students. I am excited to get involved in the interdisciplinary research that occurs throughout the campus and to contribute to the university's success."
Andriy Norets
an associate professor of economics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (economics), University of Iowa; M.A. (economics), National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Urkraine; Diploma (applied mathematics and computer science), National Technical University of Ukraine
Courses teaching: Norets will be teaching required and elective Ph.D. courses in econometrics, as well as an advanced undergraduate course in econometrics.
Research interests: His research focuses on Bayesian methods in econometrics.
"Andriy Norets comes to Illinois from Princeton University, where he was an assistant professor," said Martin Perry, the head of economics. "He has made important contributions to the analysis of dynamic discrete choice problems. His work has applications to a wide variety of economic decision processes including retirement decisions and firm entry and competition. He has published his research in the leading econometrics and statistics journals and has recently received a three-year National Science Foundation grant to explore unification of classical and Bayesian inference in econometrics."
Why Illinois? "Among other factors, the presence of renowned researchers in my field and plans to hire new economics faculty in multiple fields over the next few years played an important role in my decision to come to Illinois," Norets said.
Sept. 19, 2013
Jean Paul Allain
an associate professor of nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering in the College of Engineering
Education: Ph.D. (nuclear engineering) and M.S. (nuclear engineering), U. of I.; B.S. (mechanical engineering), California State Polytechnic University
Courses teaching: NPRE 429, Plasma Engineering, and he is helping with NPRE 201, Energy Systems, this fall.
Research interests: irradiation surface science, plasma-surface and materials interactions in fusion devices, advanced nanostructured biointerfaces for regenerative medicine, biomechanics and tissue engineering of nanostructured biointerfaces, and engineering design for global social impact
"Dr. Allain returns to Illinois after several years on the faculty at Purdue," said Jim Stubbins, the head of nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of plasma-material processing and materials applications in nuclear fusion. His expertise is applied over a wide range of energy systems, from electronic material to medical applications. His hiring will help build our undergraduate and graduate teaching and research programs."
Why Illinois? "I chose Illinois for its pre-eminence in engineering (in the top five of graduate programs), the quality of students, the quality and multidisciplinary nature of research and its culture of excellence that connects faculty, students and staff with the 'Illinois way,' " Allain said. "My move to Illinois will enable my research to reach new levels and engage in new emerging areas of plasma-materials research and nanofabrication.
"I'm also an alum and so proud of being part of the Illini family."
Jessica L. Conroy
an assistant professor of geology and of plant biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (geosciences) and M.S. (geosciences), University of Arizona; B.A. (geology), College of Wooster
Courses teaching: She will create and teach two courses: Geology 100, Planet Earth, a graduate course in global change geology, and an undergraduate course in global change.
Research interests: She extracts records of climate change from lake sediments, and she analyzes those records in light of Earth's large-scale atmospheric patterns.
"Professor Conroy is geology's first hire in the area of global change and Earth system science," said Thomas M. Johnson, the head of geology. "Her research and teaching interests overlap nicely into the School of Integrative Biology, because of the ecological aspects of her research and the emphasis on global biogeochemistry in her teaching. Plant biology (in SIB) has a strong program in this area, and thus Conroy's presence fills a strategic need but also connects to existing strengths on campus. Her work also overlaps nicely with climate science research in the department of atmospheric sciences."
Why Illinois? "When I was assessing my career options, I quickly realized Illinois would give me the best toolkit to excel at my research," Conroy said. "The available research resources, the top-notch faculty members and the strong spirit of collaboration that pervades the campus all excited me. Being part of an academic couple also influenced my decision to come here. Illinois is incredibly progressive on dual-career issues. Finally, being part of a premier research institution with a land-grant mission to serve society and teach the community really resonated with me. In my field of global change, we can't just hide in the lab; we must continually strive to ensure the public understands the impact of climate change at a global and a local level."
Oct. 3, 2013
Anna Chen
an assistant professor of library administration and curator at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Education: Ph.D., M.Phil. and M.A. (English literature), Yale University; M.S. (information studies), University of Texas at Austin; B.A. (English literature), Johns Hopkins University
Research interests: Her research interests include medieval literature and childhood, archives and personal recordkeeping practices, and the relationships between material and digital cultures.
"Anna is one of a new generation of scholars who exhibits an exciting synergy for her field," said John P. Wilkin, the university librarian. "Her scholarly background, passion for rare books and manuscripts, and eagerness to apply new and emerging technologies helps increase access and use of rare materials that scholars once had to travel to view and use."
Why Illinois? "I was impressed not only by the library's world-class collections, its engagement with the community both within and beyond the university, and its forward-looking approach to librarianship," Chen said, "but also by the collegiality of everyone I met. I'm excited by the potential for innovative and collaborative work here."
J. Michael Griggs
an assistant professor of scene design, department of theatre, College of Fine and Applied Arts
Education: M.F.A. (theater design), University of California at San Diego; B.F.A. (set design), Goodman School of Drama, DePaul University
Courses teaching: In addition to classroom instruction, he will oversee and mentor student work in production
Research interests: His creative research is an ongoing project of providing scenic design to a variety of theater productions for Illinois - including the upcoming Sullivan Project - and for other theaters across the region and the nation.
"Professor Griggs comes to us from the Tony Award-winning American Repertory Theater and Harvard University where he was a resident designer, technical director, lecturer and mentor for student projects," said Jeffrey E. Jenkins, the head of the U. of I. department of theatre. "He has been cited numerous times for excellence in design and in teaching by peers in the profession and academia."
Why Illinois? "My first position out of graduate school was at the University of Illinois so my decision to return was based on my first-hand experiences with the excellent faculty of the theatre department and the talented staff at Krannert Center," Griggs said. "Our work is about imagination and finding that original creative idea, a very abstract concept to teach but the very basis of any new discovery. The theatre department here - with its wide variety of production work and exciting guest artists - does a great job cultivating an atmosphere that supports the incubation of that creativity and originality. ... For this next phase of my career I am happy to return to my home state and am looking forward to working with the next generation of designers."
Oct. 17, 2013
Robb Lindgren
assistant professor of educational technology in the department of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education
Education: Ph.D. (learning sciences and technology design) and M.A. (psychology), Stanford University; B.S. (computer science), Northwestern University
Research interests: His research program focuses on learning and instruction through the use of emerging immersive and interactive digital media platforms such as simulations, virtual environments, mobile devices, video games and mixed reality.
"Dr. Robb Lindgren seeks to understand how contemporary media technologies can be used to construct new identities and generate new perspectives that lead to stronger comprehension of complex ideas in STEM content areas," said Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, a professor and the head of curriculum and instruction. "His expertise with immersive digital learning ecologies adds tremendously to our capacity at the departmental, College of Education and campus levels in the area of advancing learning and teaching in 21st-century classrooms and platforms. His scholarship connects directly with the campus' Strategic Plan in terms of the grand societal challenge focused on information and technology."
Courses teaching: CI507, Digital Learning
Why Illinois? "Coming to Illinois was a great opportunity for my family to return to our Midwestern roots, and for me to be part of an exciting new research initiative in the College of Education that investigates how to enhance learning and teaching with digital technologies," Lindgren said. "Illinois has historically been a leader in innovative approaches to teaching with technology and understanding the psychological processes that support learning across the content areas. I have come to a place with wonderfully supportive and brilliant colleagues, dedicated students and a friendly and welcoming community."
Laura Selmic
assistant professor of veterinary clinical medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine
Education: M.P.H. (applied biostatistics), Colorado School of Public Health; B.VetMed, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, England. She is a diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (small animal).
Research interests: Her research interests include the epidemiology of osteosarcoma and the application of biostatistics and epidemiology to observational studies, clinical trials and experimental research.
"Dr. Laura Selmic brings a unique set of clinical skills to the department of veterinary clinical medicine which strongly aligns with the U. of I.'s Health Sciences Initiative, specifically in the field of cancer," said Karen L. Campbell, a professor and the head of veterinary clinical medicine. "Her completion of the Veterinary Oncology Surgical Fellowship training will allow her to provide exceptional oncologic surgical procedures to referring veterinarians and pet owners, contribute to the breadth and comprehensive training of professional students enrolled in the veterinary program and substantively contribute to the diversity of cancer-collaborative activities which are developing on the U. of I. campus. In addition, she has a Master in Public Health degree, with an emphasis in epidemiology and clinical trial design, which will aid in the development of a nationally recognized veterinary oncology program."
Why Illinois? "I was excited to join a college with such strong foundations in small animal surgery and oncology, and a university with so many opportunities for collaborative research," Selmic said. "After visiting and meeting my talented future colleagues, I knew working at the U. of I. was the ideal next step in my academic career."
Nov. 7, 2013
Stephanie Craft
an associate professor of journalism in the College of Media
Education: Ph.D. (communication), Stanford University; M.A. (journalism), University of Missouri; B.A. (history), Washington University in St. Louis
Research interests: News literacy, press practices and roles, media ethics
"Dr. Craft has established a national and international reputation for her research into media literacy and press practices and ethics and their connections to democracy," said Rich Martin, a professor and the head of journalism. "She is a co-author of a new book that many believe will become the standard introductory journalism text in the future. In addition, she has proven herself to be a strong and dedicated teacher who will be an outstanding influence in our classrooms. We're delighted and excited that she's joined our faculty."
Courses teaching: J405, History of American Journalism, and J250, Journalism Ethics and Diversity
Why Illinois? "The university's vast resources - both human and financial - and support of interdisciplinary work are very appealing to me," Craft said. "I've been so impressed by how open, friendly, helpful and productive people here are. I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to be part of a world-class institution."
David Molitor
an assistant professor of finance in the College of Business
Education: Ph.D. (economics), Massachusetts Institute of Technology; B.S. (math and economics), University of Minnesota
Research interests: Economic policy (health care delivery)
"David graduated from the MIT economics department in 2012 and spent the past year as a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research," said Louis Chan, the head of the finance department. "His research is especially timely in that it focuses on the economics of the health care sector, with particular emphasis on the economics of health care delivery. He has studied how factors such as physician location and migration drive technological adoption and regional differences in health care practice and cost."
Courses teaching: FIN 580 sections GI, GI2 (Government Insurance Programs) and sections IT, IT2 (Individual Tax Policy) in spring 2014
Why Illinois? "One of the primary attractions to me at the University of Illinois is the Center for Business and Public Policy, where I am a research associate," Molitor said. "As part of its mission to promote rigorous research on the effects of public policy on the U.S. economy, the center facilitates interactions among internationally renowned faculty across departments and colleges at the university, including the department of economics, the College of Business and the College of Law. The synergies between the center's mission and my research interests in health economics are a primary reason I joined Illinois."
Nov. 21, 2013
Cabral A. Bigman-Galimore
an assistant professor of communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (communication), M.A. (communication), University of Pennsylvania; B.A. (psychology), Oberlin College
Research interests:Her broad research goals center on advancing understanding of how communication can reduce health inequalities and advance public health.
"One of the most exciting aspects of professor Bigman-Galimore's research is the potential benefits for people who have the most to gain from advances in public health," said John Caughlin, a professor and the acting head of the department of communication. "Researchers have long documented that there are inequalities in health outcomes, and her work is aimed at making a real difference for those who have not always benefited as much as they could from positive developments in health care. We are very excited about professor Bigman-Galimore's research agenda because she is taking state-of-the-art research and theory about communication and audiences, and she is using it to address one of the most socially significant issues of our time."
Courses teaching: CMN 496, Communication and Health Inequalities. This course will explore the role that communication plays as both a potential contributor to existing health inequalities and a means of helping to reduce them.
Why Illinois? "The department of communication's collegiality, scholarship and emphasis on teaching and research excellence drew me to Illinois," Bigman-Galimore said. "As a communication scholar with an interest in interdisciplinary research, I've found Illinois to be a great fit. The university's reputation as a world-class research institution means there are exciting opportunities for collaboration both within my department and across the campus."
James Patrick O'Dwyer
an assistant professor of plant biology, School of Integrative Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (theoretical physics), University of Cambridge; M.A.St. (mathematics), University of Cambridge; M.S. (physics), University of Durham
Research interests: As a quantitative ecologist, he has a vision to develop a broad and integrative body of theory to inform the understanding of the processes driving ecological systems. He works with data ranging from tropical forests to human- and plant-associated bacteria. These ecological communities all have their own unique features and biology, and a common thread throughout all of his research is to explore the tension between phenomena that are universal across many different systems and those that are the most important signatures of their differences.
"In his research, Dr. O'Dwyer develops mathematical frameworks for analyzing complex biological systems," said Feng Sheng Hu, a professor and the head of plant biology. "Biological breakthroughs of the 21st century will require transdisciplinary collaboration, and I am particularly excited that James is well-positioned to enhance the interactions of plant biology with many other units on campus, such as molecular and cellular biology, mathematics and physics. He will also develop and teach new courses in quantitative biology for training a new generation of biologists."
Courses teaching: Mathematical Modeling in Ecology and Evolution
Why Illinois? "The primary reason I chose Illinois is the vibrant and unique intellectual community," O'Dwyer said. "I draw from multiple disciplines in my research and teaching, and I'm excited about the opportunities for and encouragement of interdisciplinary work here. Second, Illinois is more than just an institution - it feels like I'm a member of a family."
Dec. 5, 2013
Hillary Klonoff-Cohen
the director of the Master of Public Health program in the department of kinesiology and community health and the Saul J. Morse and Anne B. Morgan Professor in Applied Health Sciences
Education: Ph.D. (epidemiology), University of North Carolina; M.S. (biology), University of Bridgeport, Connecticut; B.A. (psychology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Research interests: Public health issues such as obesity and diabetes, smoking cessation and the effects of passive smoking, cancer and fertility in men and women.
"Dr. Klonoff-Cohen has the research background and experience to build on existing strengths in our department in the areas of community health, women's health, cancer and chronic disease prevention," said Wojtek J. Chodzko-Zajko, theShahid and Ann Carlson Khan Professor and head of the department of kinesiology and community health. "She will increase the visibility and impact of Illinois research and educational programs related to human health. Furthermore, she will advance our new MPH program that in turn will expand opportunities for engaging in translational research and enhance Illinois' relationship with public health entities across the state and nation, including local connections."
Why Illinois? "Units in the College of Applied Health Sciences share a common goal: to build a better world," Klonoff-Cohen said. "The department of kinesiology and community health provides a perfect environment to develop a collaborative, broad-based cutting-edge research program in domains such as women's and infants' health and cancer across the lifespan. Additionally, expanding the visibility of the MPH and Ph.D. programs into a top-ranked program is very appealing. Finally, I am looking for an institution that is dedicated to teaching, and inspires, motivates and mentors its faculty (members), as well as building new bridges within the community and statewide - U. of I. is the one."
Christopher Macklin
an assistant professor of musicology in the School of Music in the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Education: Ph.D., University of York, United Kingdom; B.A., Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music
Research interests: The use of music in response to social stress, especially during late medieval epidemics of pestilence. Other interests include the relationship between speech and song in medieval lyric performance in Wales and the use of music in the neuroscientific explorations of mind and memory.
"Dr. Macklin is part of a new wave of interdisciplinary thinking in the School of Music," said Jeffrey Magee, the director of the School of Music. "He brings an unusual scientific background to his rich perspectives and experiences as a musical scholar, performer and teacher. His interests in music, memory and cognitive neuroscience, and his fascinating inquiry into how music engaged with and reflected the plague epidemics in 14th- and 15th-century Europe promise to open up new vistas within and beyond the school."
Courses teaching: MUS 313, The History of Western Music I, and MUS 410, Period Studies in Musicology: Medieval Music
Why Illinois? "The University of Illinois has long enjoyed an enviable reputation in musical circles as a place where exciting things are happening in nearly every aspect of music, from history to composition to performance," Macklin said. "Though this was one element that attracted me, what really made the decision for me was the chance to work on a daily basis with the people I now have as colleagues in musicology and medieval studies. Their energy and enthusiasm is never anything less than inspiring."
Dec. 19, 2013
Sharon M. "Shelly" Nickols-Richardson
a professor and the head of food science and human nutrition in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Education: Ph.D. and M.S. (foods and nutrition), University of Georgia; B.S. (nutritional sciences), Oklahoma State University
Research interests: Determinants of obesity prevention and body weight regulation across the life span to lower the burden of chronic diseases, ranging from metabolic syndrome to osteoporosis; and the impact of weight loss, weight loss diets and restrained eating on bone mineral density and bone metabolism and the interaction of nutrient intake and resistance training on bone health
"One of the many outstanding characteristics of the College of ACES is its strong leadership at the departmental level," said Robert J. Hauser, dean of the college. "Shelly continues that tradition. She came from Penn State, where she was a professor of nutritional sciences and the director of their graduate program. She hit the ground running here in July, with a lot of emphasis on learning as much as she could as soon as she could about the research and teaching programs in FSHN, an exceptional department that deserves the exceptional leadership that Shelly provides."
Courses teaching: FSHN 322, Nutrition and the Life Cycle
Why Illinois? "The department of food science and human nutrition at the U. of I. has a stellar international reputation due to exceptional and innovative research in health and wellness, energy and the environment, and sustainable food and nutrition applications," Nickols-Richardson said. "Moreover, the department is known for its rigorous and relevant undergraduate and graduate programs and its commitment to Extension, outreach and public service. The integration of food science, dietetics, hospitality management and human nutrition is somewhat unique to FSHN, and departmental synergy is what attracted me to the university. No other department blends these areas of science as well as FSHN."
Dipanjan Pan
an assistant professor of bioengineering in the College of Engineering and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
Education: Ph.D. (synthetic organic chemistry), Indian Institute of Technology; M.S. (organic chemistry) and B.S. (chemistry), Vidyasagar University, India
Research interests: Novel well-defined nanostructures for biomedical applications and nanomedicine; functional polymers; molecular imaging; and drug delivery and synthetic chemistry
"Following graduate training in chemistry, Dr. Pan became an expert in molecular imaging probes for applications in cardiovascular disease and cancer," said Rashid Bashir, the head of the department of bioengineering. "For the past six years, he has worked in the department of medicine at Washington University as part of a team developing this technology and translating it into clinical practice. At Illinois, he will have a laboratory at the Mills Breast Cancer Institute at Carle, where he will expand his work in molecular imaging probe development for magnetic resonance, optical and nuclear imaging of cancer. Through Dr. Pan, the department of bioengineering extends its presence in clinical medicine at Mills. He also is developing a new engineering course on molecular imaging probe chemistry to add to our offerings in biomedical imaging."
Courses teaching: BIOE 498/598 DP, Imaging and Therapeutic Probes
Why Illinois? "I'm extremely delighted and proud about joining this renowned university and one of the top engineering schools in the country," Pan said. "With a laboratory strategically located at the Carle Foundation Hospital and Biomedical Research Center, this is an intriguing opportunity to bring nanotechnology to the clinics. I'm fascinated by the university's world-class infrastructure and collaborative ambiance and I look forward to closely working with the students and researchers with complementary expertise."
