Awards and Recognition

Joan Gabel is quoted in the Star Tribune about U of M Regents approving free tuition for students of families earning $50K or less; Michael Osterholm is quoted in the New York Times story, “As States Expand Access to Vaccines, Supply Isn't Keeping Up”; David Masopust and Marc Jenkins are quoted in The Atlantic story, “The Body Is Far From Helpless Against Coronavirus Variants”; Matt Kramer and multiple U of M Regents are quoted in a Pioneer Press story about the U of M moving to allow alcohol sponsors for Gopher Sports; Jaime Slaughter-Acey comments in the Washington Post about whether spring break travel is safe this year; Abi Gewirtz is quoted in the New York Times story, “Is My Kid a Hypochondriac?”; Dave Golden, Jill DeBoer, and Rebecca Wurtz are mentioned in the Minnesota Daily story, “UMN COVID-19 vaccine team administers 2,000 first doses”; Jeremy Van't Hof is interviewed in a KSTP-TV story about tips to reduce your stress and keep your heart healthy; Kathryn Nelson is quoted in a Discover Magazine story about whether turmeric works for joint pain; Stephen Polasky is quoted in the Mongabay.com story, “As nature declines, so does human quality of life”; Robert Krueger and Matt Kushner are quoted in a Minnesota Daily story about research showing that discrimination can lead to anxiety disorders; PBS has featured the U of M’s role in helping to feed the world, including the WCROC Ammonia Pilot Plant and wind turbines; Ryan Langlois and Susan Kline are quoted in a KARE 11 story about major new SARS-CoV-2 discoveries. 

Michael Georgieff has been named the 2020 Agnes Higgins Award recipient from the March of Dimes. He is being recognized for his pivotal research linking iron deficiency early in life and long-term mental health. In particular, Georgieff uncovered basic mechanisms by which iron deficiency in newborns affects the brain’s development and can lead to lasting neurobehavioral challenges, such as poor attention and increased risk of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. For 20 years, March of Dimes has recognized the achievements of more than 30 leaders in the field of maternal-fetal nutrition focused on research, education or clinical services through the Agnes Higgins Award. Georgieff is the Martin Lenz Harrison Land Grant Chair in Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology and Child Psychology, the Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, the Director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Development at the Medical School and co-Director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain at the University of Minnesota.

Professor Christina Ewig and researcher Brittany Lewis have been appointed to the Women’s Economic Security Task Force, created by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to examine the barriers women face in the economy and develop strategies that support women's economic security in Minnesota. 
   

Nicholas Jarjour is among twenty brilliant early-career investigators who will receive funding to pursue cutting-edge cancer research. The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, a nonprofit focused on supporting brilliant, early career researchers, named 15 new Damon Runyon Fellows. The recipients of the four-year award are outstanding postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators across the country. The Fellowship encourages the nation's most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($231,000 total) to work on innovative projects. The Committee also selected five new recipients of the Damon Runyon-Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists who will each receive $100,000 toward their research. Jarjour, with his sponsor Stephen Jameson at the University of Minnesota, is searching for novel methods to overcome resistance to immunotherapy. His work has implications for many types of cancer, as well as vaccine development.

Catherine Kotz, professor and associate director of graduate studies for the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, has been named the new president of The Obesity Society, the leading organization devoted to understanding and reversing the epidemic of obesity and its adverse health, economic and societal effects.

Assistant Professor Bonnie Keeler has been named a 2021 Fellow of the Earth Leadership Program. The 21 North American Fellows will pursue “transdisciplinary work that brings together scientific disciplines, government representatives, private sector voices, and civil society to build a more sustainable future for all.”

Northrop has been approved for a $40,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support the Northrop Dance Series. This project will support the presentation of dance performances and audience engagement activities as part of the Northrop Dance Series. The Northrop project is among 1,073 projects across America totaling nearly $25 million that were selected during this first round of fiscal year 2021 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects funding category.

Kenneth Beckman is quoted in the Associated Press story, “US rushes to catch up in the race to detect mutant viruses”; Gail Ferguson is quoted in the National Geographic story, “Missing family during the pandemic? Celebrate your ancestry with recipes”; Louis Mansky is quoted in a National Geographic story about what determines how quickly the coronavirus is mutating; Joyce Serido was interviewed for a CBS Local story about how much we owe in student debt; Michael Osterholm was quoted by CNN and other news orgs about encouraging progress in the U.S. on the vaccine front; David Mech is quoted in the Star Tribune story, “A pack of wolves thrived near Minneapolis; how it died offers lessons for the future”; Brenda Child is quoted in a CNN story about how social media is helping Native Americans preserve cultural traditions during pandemic; Mark Schleiss is quoted in a USA Today story about teachers still being fearful of COVID-19, with calls to reopen schools growing louder; Abe Jacob spoke with KARE 11 about data showing racial disparities in vaccine distribution; Chris Lundstrom spoke with CBS Local about whether Peloton-like connected fitness machines work.

University of Minnesota Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Keshab Parhi has been named a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow and will be inducted into the NAI at the academy’s meeting in June. Parhi holds 34 patents, several that form the backbone of the Internet. Election to NAI Fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Parhi is a world-renowned and field-shaping engineer and scientist who is known best for his pioneering research in the broad field of Very Large Scale Integrated design of digital signal processing, image processing, and communications systems. His research is used in many integrated circuit chips for broadband communications systems. He is the author of more than 600 research papers.

The Minnesota Crop Improvement Association has presented its highest honor, the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award, to Don Wyse. Wyse is a professor and researcher with the University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota researcher Donn Vellekson and MCIA field inspector Randy Krzmarzick received the Honorary Premier Seedsman Award.