Tag: faculty research

A line of trophies

Distinguished Scholar and Junior Faculty Scholar awards announced

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Miami University Distinguished Scholar Awards for 2020 have been presented to Scott Hartley, Volwiler distinguished professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry; Terri Messman-Moore, professor in the department of psychology; and Elizabeth Wardle, Howe professor in the department of English and director of the Howe Center for Writing Excellence.

The 2020 class of Miami University Distinguished Scholars are (from left to right) Scott Hartley, Terri Messman-Moore, and Elizabeth Wardle

Distinguished Scholar Awards honor faculty whose sustained excellence in research or other creative activity has brought them prominence in their fields.

Miami University Junior Faculty Scholar Awards have been presented to Andrew Paluch, associate professor in the department of chemical, paper, and biomedical engineering; Ryan Gunderson, assistant professor in the department of sociology and gerontology; Brittany Aronson, an assistant professor in the department of educational leadership; and Rosemary Pennington, assistant professor in the department of media, journalism, and film.

The 2020 class of Miami University Junior Faculty Scholars are (from left to right) Andrew Paluch, Ryan Gunderson, Brittany Aronson, and Rosemary Pennington

Junior Faculty Scholar Awards honor faculty who have demonstrated great potential in research or artistry and have achieved significant standing in their fields. Candidates for the Junior Faculty Scholar Award must have received their highest degree no more than eight years before the time of nomination.

The scholars, named by the committee on faculty research, each receive a $2,000 grant for the pursuit of further research.

They were to be honored at the University Awards Reception, which was scheduled for March 17, but canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trophy photo by Brad.K via Flickr, used under Creative Commons license. Faculty photos by Miami University Photo Services.

Annette Bollmann explains equipment to a student in her lab.

$5.2 million funds four microbiologists’ research from Acton Lake to Antarctica

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DJ Ferguson and Jyoti Kashyap work with liquid in a flask in Ferguson's lab.
Ferguson (right) and doctoral student Jyoti Kashyap

Four Miami University microbiologists — who make up the department’s new microbiology physiology research cluster — collaborate on projects with each other and with more than a dozen researchers from other universities.

Together, they are working on five projects funded by more than $5.2 million in recent grants from three national agencies. Study sites range from nearby Acton Lake to Antarctica.

Microbes — the first living creatures on Earth — are microscopic, single-celled organisms found almost everywhere on Earth including on and inside you.

  • Microbes make up more than 60 percent of Earth’s biomass.
  • An estimated 2-3 billion species of microbes share our planet — but fewer than 0.5 percent (that’s still 10 million) have been identified.
  • Microbes generate at least half of the oxygen we breathe.

From the human gut to the atmosphere

The research projects of Rachael Morgan-Kiss, Annette Bollmann and D.J. Ferguson, associate professors of microbiology, and Xin Wang, assistant professor, explore microbes in projects including:

  • Microbial engineering for the production of biofuels.
  • Manipulating microbial communities to function more efficiently for wastewater treatment.
  • Studying extremophiles to create new engineering targets for artificial photosynthesis.
  • Contributing to long-term research on climate variation in the South Pole.
  • Human gut microbes.

By the numbers:

  • Four faculty mentor nine graduate and 11 undergraduate students on these projects.
  • They collaborate with 13 researchers from 11 universities.
  • One internationally-known artist, Xavier Cortada, is working with students and researchers.

Read their stories:

Click on the links to read their stories in Miami’s Campus News.

Rachael Morgan-Kiss and Xin Wang: “Antarctic algae, alternative photosynthesis and art.”

D.J. Ferguson and Xin Wang: “Microbes, QAs, methane: Top to bottom.”

Annette Bollmann: “Microbial ‘neighbors’ improve ammonia removal in wastewater.”

Xin Wang: “Engineering microbes.”

Spotlight on undergraduate research:

These faculty each mentor several undergraduate research students. Learn more about their research at Miami’s 25th Annual Undergraduate Research Forum, April 23-24.

Morgan-Kiss: All students in her Microbial Ecology (MBI 475/575) class will present posters about their work with samples from Antarctica.

Xavier Cortada, an internationally-known environmental artist based in Miami, Florida, will meet with the class to help them design posters for a broad, general audience.

Ferguson’s lab group: Sarah Soppe, senior microbiology major and Spanish double major, and Claire Papamarcos, senior microbiology major and environmental science co-major.

Bollmann’s lab group: Conor Dolson, senior microbiology major and premedical studies co-major.

Wang’s lab group: Kaya Mernitz, senior microbiology major and premedical studies co-major.

Written by Susan Meikle, University News Writer/Editor, University Communications and Marketing, Miami University. Originally appeared as a “Top Story” on Miami University’s News and Events website.

Photos of D.J. Ferguson and Annette Bollmann by Scott Kissell, Miami University Photo Services.

 

Josh Magee, flanked by Provost Phyllis Callahan and President Greg Crawford, poses with a plaque commemorating his Distinguished Junior Faculty Scholar Award.

Distinguished Scholar and Junior Faculty Scholar awards announced

Research & Innovation StaffLeave a comment
Daisy Hernández, flanked by Provost Phyllis Callahan and President Greg Crawford, poses with a plaque commemorating her Distinguished Junior Faculty Scholar Award.
Daisy Hernández (center), assistant professor of English, is one of three researchers named as Miami University Distinguished Junior Facuty Scholars for 2018-2019. She is pictured with Miami University provost Phyllis Callahan (left) and president Greg Crawford (right).

Miami University Distinguished Scholar Awards for 2019 have been presented to Mike Brudzinski, professor of geology and environmental earth science; Kevin Bush, professor of family science and social work and associate dean in the College of Education, Health, & Society; and Stephen Norris, Walter E. Havighurst Professor of history.

Distinguished Scholar Awards honor faculty whose sustained excellence in research or other creative activity has brought them prominence in their fields.

Miami University Junior Faculty Scholar Awards have been presented to Zhijiang Ye, assistant professor of mechanical and manufacturing engineering; Josh Magee, assistant professor of psychology; and Daisy Hernández, assistant professor of English.

Junior Faculty Scholar Awards honor faculty who have demonstrated great potential in research or artistry and have achieved significant standing in their fields. Candidates for the Junior Faculty Scholar Award must have received their highest degree no more than eight years before the time of nomination.

The scholars, named by the committee on faculty research, each receive a $2,000 grant for the pursuit of further research.

They were honored at the University Awards Reception March 19.

Photos of  Joshua Magee and Daisy Hernández  by Jeff Sabo, Miami University Photo Services.

Qihou Zhou and Greg Crawford pose with the plaque commemorating Zhou's Distinguished Scholar Award.

Distinguished Scholar and Junior Faculty Scholar awards announced

Research & Innovation StaffLeave a comment
Greg Crawford and Lisa Ellram pose with the plaque commemorating Ellram's Distinguished Scholar Award.
Lisa Ellram (right), Rees Distinguished Professor of Management, is one of two researchers named as Miami University Distinguished Scholars for 2017-2018. She is pictured with Miami University president Greg Crawford.

Miami University Distinguished Scholar Awards for 2018 have been presented to Qihou Zhou, professor and chair of electrical and computer engineering and Lisa Ellram, Rees Distinguished Professor of management.

Distinguished Scholar Awards honor faculty whose sustained excellence in research or other creative activity has brought them prominence in their fields.

Miami University Junior Faculty Scholar Awards have been presented to Dominik Konkolewicz, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry and Bob De Schutter, C. Michael Armstrong Assistant Professor of interactive media studies and the College of Education, Health, and Society.

Junior Faculty Scholar Awards honor faculty who have demonstrated great potential in research or artistry and have achieved significant standing in their fields. Candidates for the Junior Faculty Scholar Award must have received their highest degree no more than eight years before the time of nomination.

The scholars, named by the committee on faculty research, each receive a $2,000 grant for the pursuit of further research.

They were honored at the University Awards Reception April 18.

Photos of Qihou Zhou and Lisa Ellram by Ricardo Trevino, Miami University Photo Services.

April Smith holds the plaque commemorating her 2016-2017 Miami University Distinguished Junior Faculty Scholar award. Standing on either side of her are university president Gregory Crawford and provost Phyllis Callahan.

Distinguished Scholar and Junior Faculty Scholar awards announced

Research & Innovation StaffLeave a comment
Dave Berg holds the plaque commemorating his 2016-2017 Distinguished Scholar Award. On either side of him stand Miami University president Greg Crawford and provost Phyllis Callahan.
David Berg, center, is one of three recipients of the Miami University Distinguished Scholar award for 2016-2017. He is pictured with university president Greg Crawford and provost Phyllis Callahan.

Miami University Distinguished Scholar Awards for 2017 have been presented to David Berg, professor of biology; Jonathan Strauss, professor of French and Italian; and Janardin Subedi, professor of sociology and gerontology.

Distinguished Scholar Awards honor faculty whose sustained excellence in research or other creative activity has brought them prominence in their fields.

Miami University Junior Faculty Scholar Awards have been presented to Mahmud Khan, assistant professor of physics; Brian Meyers, assistant professor of music; and April Smith, assistant professor of psychology.

Junior Faculty Scholar Awards honor faculty who have demonstrated great potential in research or artistry and have achieved significant standing in their fields. Candidates for the Junior Faculty Scholar Award must have received their highest degree no more than eight years before the time of nomination.

The scholars, named by the committee on faculty research, each receive a $2,000 grant for the pursuit of further research.

They were honored at the University Awards Reception April 10.

Read more about the three Distinguished Scholars on Campus News.

  • Applied and Natural Sciences: David Berg
  • Business, Education and Social Sciences: Janardin Subedi
  • Humanities and Creative Arts: Jonathan Strauss

Read more about the three Junior Faculty Scholars on Campus News.

  • Applied and Natural Sciences: Mahmud Khan
  • Business, Education and Social Sciences: April Smith
  • Humanities and Creative Arts: Brian Meyers

Originally appeared as a top story on Miami University’s News and Events website.

Photos of April Smith and David Berg by Scott Kissell, Miami University Photo Services.