Congratulations to Kelly Hogan, who was featured in a “Teaching in Higher Ed” podcast along with her Psychology and Neuroscience collegure Viji Sathy. In the podcast, Hogan and Sathy describe how interactivity and inclusivity can help close the achievement gap. The podcast was also accompanied by a blog.
Congratulations to Vincent Boudreau (PhD student in the lab of Paul Maddox) and Carlos Patiño Descovich (former member of Amy Maddox’s lab, currently a PhD student in Scott Williams’ lab), who will both be inducted into the “Frank Porter Graham Honor Society.” The Honor Society (FPGHS) recognizes outstanding service provided to the University and community and includes a very select group of faculty and graduate students. The contributions to research science by Vincent and Carlos are deeply appreciated by their peers and colleagues. Their contributions include research discoveries, computer vision software, and orchestrating conferences including the popular Triangle Cytoskeleton Meeting.
Congratulations to Teaching Professor Dr. Jean DeSaix, who was recently honored by the Department of Biology for her many years of service and teaching excellence. Current and former colleagues, friends, family, and students were all able to share their appreciation for her years of dedication to UNC and to the Department of Biology. Also in attendance were UNC Chancellor Carol A. Folt, UNC College of Arts & Sciences Dean Kevin Guskiewicz, and Senior Associate Dean Christopher Clemens. Additionally, the “Jean DeSaix Excellence in Teaching Fund” has been established to recognize Dr. DeSaix’s outstanding contributions to the department and the students whose lives she has touched. This fund will provide professional development awards for teaching faculty, and excellence awards to undergraduate and graduate students who support our teaching mission. Donations to the fund may be made online through the Arts & Sciences Foundation.
Congratulations to Dr. Justin Watkins (postdoc in Alan Jones’s Lab) who has been selected as a “3-yr SPIRE Fellow” beginning Sept 1st, 2018. The mission of “Seeding Postdoctoral Innovators in Research & Education” (SPIRE) is to provide multi-dimensional professional development for science researchers and educators to succeed in academic careers, to bring engaging teaching methods into the classroom, and to increase diversity in science professions.
Congratulations to these UNC-CH students, enrolled as Biology majors or minors, for their induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. At the induction ceremony, new members receive certificates and Phi Beta Kappa keys, the organization’s symbol.
The new inductees are:
Courtney Elizabeth Cash, Angelo Ibrahim Chaia, Christian Jaeger Cook, Adelaide Rosalie Cooke, Brittany Cooper, Christiana Maria Cornea, Abigail Ann Drees, Khushnood Faraz, Briana Notterpek Fletcher, Hannah Rose Frediani, Franklin Richard Gergoudis, Tate Elizabeth Giddens, Marwan Ayman Hawari, Madisyn Ann Hill, Emily Susan Hollis, Sara Elaine Hudson, Kristin Michelle Isabell, Hannah Jaggers, Lindsay Gayle Jones, Gauri Joshi, Alexander Y.Z. Li, Zijin Lin, Jiacheng Liu, Frances Lee Mueller, Abigail R. Needell, Grace Elizabeth Nipp, Megan Rose Ogorchock, Jane Bradford Pearce, Carlos Antonio Perez-Heydrich, Lindsay Ann Player, Ashley Anne Privette, Samuel Lawrence Mulkern Raines, Kaitlin Eileen Sanzone, Ishan Jay Shah, Anna Catherine Silver, Hudson Duval Spangler, Nicholas McDaniel Teague, Kailyn Janelle Valido, Madeline Leigh Watson, Clark Alexander Williamson, Daniel Keith Winecoff, and Adrian Leia Wood.
Congratulations to Aaron Comeault (Daniel Matute lab postdoc) who was one of 4 recipients of the prestigious “Jasper Loftus-Hills Young Investigator Awards” from the American Society of Naturalists. The other three award recipients were Rachel Germain, Rachael Bay, and Gijsbert Werner.
Congratulations to Alicia Chen, who has been chosen as the “2018 Hagadorn Award” winner. Established in 1983, the Hagadorn Award is given to the top junior Biology major based on academic and research excellence and contributions to the Biology Department. This award was established in honor of Dr Irvine Hagadorn, former Chair of the Department of Zoology at UNC. This award will be presented by Chancellor Folt at the Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony on April 24, 2018. READ MORE >>
John Bruno, whose paper entitled “How to save the ‘tropical rainforests’ of the ocean“ appears in The Washington Post. In this article, Bruno describes the current vast destruction of coral reefs, and shares ideas on how these damaged reefs can be restored.
Congratulations to Victoria Bautch, Distinguished Professor and Chair of Biology and Co-Director of the UNC McAllister Heart Institute, who was recently awarded an Outstanding Investigator Award (R35) from NIH-NHLBI. The award will bring in over $6M in funds to UNC to support her lab’s research. Entitled “Molecular and Cellular Control of Angiogenesis”, the award will allow Bautch and her group to open new directions in understanding how blood vessels form during development and function in the adult. Bautch is also a member of the Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences (iBGS) and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Biology Department is proud to announce these two UNC Teaching Awards presented to Biology Faculty members. Assistant Professor Amy Shaub Maddox received the “William C. Friday Award for Excellence in Teaching”, and Professor Bob Goldstein received the “Chapman Family Teaching Award”. Each of these awards is given annually for instructional work with undergraduate students. Amy and Bob are both grateful to the nominating committee, as well as the receptive and thoughtful students who wrote recommendations on their behalf!