Five faculty members and a postdoctoral research associate in the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University are the recipients of newly created awards for excellence in teaching, research and advising.
“The engineering school is blessed with enormously talented professionals who are dedicated and passionate about what they do. We decided it was time to recognize their accomplishments, let people know what Rice has to offer and encourage others to follow their example,” said Reginald DesRoches, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University.
The 2018 recipients are:
Pulickel Ajayan, Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor and chair of materials science and nanoengineering (MSNE): Outstanding Faculty Research Award, given to the faculty member who “most contributed to highly impactful publications or publicly available software.” Award: $5,000.
Adrianna Gilman, assistant professor of computational and applied mathematics: Young Faculty Research Award, given to a faculty member no higher than assistant professor, in recognition of “outstanding research achievements, as evidenced by publications, program development results, software and other research contributions.” Award: $3,000.
Ming Tang, assistant professor of MSNE: Teaching + Research Excellence Award, given for excellence in both areas. Award: $3,000.
Luay Nakhleh, professor and chair of computer science: Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Adviser Award,” given in recognition of “the achievements of a faculty member’s doctoral students who completed all degree requirements.” Award: $3,000.
Ray Simar: electrical and computer engineering professor in the practice: Curriculum Innovation Award, given to tenure-track or teaching faculty in recognition of “improving the quality of education at Rice University through pedagogical and curricular innovation.” Award: $2,500.
Sharmila Shirodkar, postdoc in the lab of Boris Yakobson, Karl F. Hasselmann Chair: Outstanding Postdoctoral Research Award, given to a postdoc who has “significantly contributed to a research program through highly impactful publications, proposal writing, or other endeavors.” Award: $2,500.
The awards were presented in a ceremony on April 26 in McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall.
Patrick Kurp, Engineering Communications