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College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

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Recognition & Awards

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics faculty members are committed to excellence in teaching, research and service. They have garnered recognition for their work from international and national organizations as well as from the University of Houston and NSM. A sampling of their honors appears under the following categories:

Academy Members

Maurice Brookhart
Professor of Chemistry
National Academy of Sciences
C.W. Paul Chu
T.L.L. Temple Foundation Chair in Science, Physics
National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Medal of Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Engineering, Academia Sinica, Third World Academy of Sciences
Jan-Åke Gustafsson
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Biology & Biochemistry
Foreign Honorary Member U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Foreign Member Finnish Scientific Society, International Member American Philosophical Society, Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, Foreign Honorary Member American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Swedish Academy of Sciences
Alex Ignatiev
Professor Emeritus
Kazakhstan National Academy of Sciences
Yuri Kuznetsov
M.D. Anderson Professor of Mathematics
Russian Academy of Sciences
John Suppe
Distinguished Professor of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Leon Thomsen
Research Professor of Exploration Geophysics
National Academy of Engineering, Foreign Member Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Holder of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences Kapitsa Medal

National, International and State Honors

2024

Jakoah Brgoch
Chemistry
Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry
Robert Comito
Chemistry
NSF CAREER Award
Byron Freelon
Physics
Fulbright Scholar
Ognjen Miljanić
Chemistry
Cottrell Plus SEED Award
Gopal Pandurangan
Computer Science
IEEE Fellow
Ioannis Pavlidis
Computer Science
IEEE Fellow
Zhifeng Ren
Physics
Outstanding Achievement in Thermoelectrics Award, International Thermoelectrics Society

2020–2023

Emily Beverly
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
NSF CAREER Award
Eric Bittner
Chemistry
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
James Briggs
Biology & Biochemistry
National Academy of Inventors, Senior Member
Tai-Yen Chen
Chemistry
NSF CAREER Award
Albert Cheng
Computer Science
Association for Computing Machinery Distinguished Speaker (2023–2026)
Shiv Halasyamani
Chemistry
Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry
Zhifeng Ren
Physics
Materials Research Society Fellow
Mehmet Şen
Biology & Biochemistry
NSF CAREER Award
Shishir Shah
Computer Science
National Academy of Inventors, Senior Member
Jinny Sisson
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator Award, American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Melissa Zastrow
Chemistry
NSF CAREER Award
Youtong Zheng
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Department of Energy Early Career Award
Eric Bittner
Chemistry
Ulam Distinguished Scholar, Los Alamos National Lab
Mini Das
Physics
SPIE Fellow
James Flynn
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
National Academy of Inventors, Senior Member
Andreas Mang
Mathematics
National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Martin Nuñez
Biology & Biochemistry
Excellence in Restoration Research Award, Texas Society for Ecological Restoration
Carlos Ordonez
Physics
Edward A. Bouchet Award, American Physical Society
Nouhad Rizk
Computer Science
Piper Professor
Panruo Wu
Computer Science
National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Wei-Kan Chu
Physics
Council of Southern Graduate Schools Outstanding Mentor Award
Mini Das
Physics
Scialog Fellow
Zhigang Deng
Computer Science
Distinguished Member, Association for Computing Machinery
Eva Harth
Chemistry
American Chemical Society Fellow
Pavan Hosur
Physics
National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Alex Ignatiev
Physics
National Academy of Inventors, Fellow
Mikyoung Jun
Mathematics
American Statistical Association Fellow
Annalisa Quaini
Mathematics
Harvard Radcliffe Institute William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Fellow
Claudia Ratti
Physics
American Physical Society Fellow
Jiajia Sun
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
J. Clarence Karcher Award, Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Julia Wellner
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Distinguished Lecturer, U.S. Science Support Program Ocean Discovery Lecture Series
Jakoah Brgoch
Chemistry
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
Albert Cheng
Computer Science
Distinguished Member, Association for Computing Machinery
Albert Cheng
Computer Science
Association for Computing Machinery Distinguished Speaker (2020–2023)
William Dupre
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Public Service Award, American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Roland Glowinski
Mathematics
W. T. and Idalia Reid Prize, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Liming Li
Physics
Scialog Fellow
Paul Mann
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator Award, American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Leon Thomsen
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Society of Exploration Geophysicists Maurice Ewing Medal
Mark Tomforde
Mathematics
Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award, Mathematical Association of America
Julia Wellner
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Geological Society of America Fellow
Judy Wu
Chemistry
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow

University Recognition

2024

Ann Cheek
Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost Core
Tai-Yen Chen
Chemistry
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost Core
Jacqueline Ekeoba, Paige Evans, Rachel Glenn, Ramona Mateer
teachHOUSTON (Mathematics)
Teaching Excellence Award – Group Teaching
Chin-Yo Lin
Biology & Biochemistry (CNRCS)
Teaching Excellence Award
 
Jeremy May
Chemistry
Outstanding Graduate Mentor
 
Gopal Pandurangan
Computer Science
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity – Professor
Donna Pattison
Biology & Biochemistry
Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence
Weiyi Peng
Biology & Biochemistry (CNRCS)
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity – Assistant Professor
Cathy Poliak
Mathematics
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical
Zhifeng Ren
Physics (TcSUH)
Esther Farfel Award
Melissa Zastrow
Chemistry
Undergraduate Research Mentor

2020–2023

Stuart Dryer
Biology & Biochemistry
Esther Farfel Award
Lisa Farmer
Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence – Instructor/Clinical
Jenifer Gifford
Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence – Provost’s Core
Andreas Mang
Mathematics
Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity – Assistant Professor
Maxim Olshanskii
Mathematics
Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity – Professor
Thomas Teets
Chemistry
Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity – Associate Professor
Loi Do
Chemistry
Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
Paige Evans
Mathematics (teachHOUSTON)
Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence
W. Anthony Frankino
Biology & Biochemistry
Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
Ioannis Kakadiaris
Computer Science
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity – Professor
Monique Ogletree
Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical
Alexander Robinson
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost Core
William Widger
Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence Award
Lisa Farmer
Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost’s Core
Rebecca Forrest
Physics
Teaching Excellence – Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence
Ana Medrano
Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence – Instructor/Clinical
Andrew Renshaw
Physics
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Assistant Professor
Nouhad Rizk
Computer Science
Teaching Excellence – Community Engagement
Judy Wu
Chemistry
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Assistant Professor
Yingcai Zheng
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Associate Professor
Melahat Almus
Mathematics
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost’s Core
Rene Bellwied
Physics
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Professor
Wei-Kan Chu
Physics
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
Donald Kouri
Physics
Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
Thomas Teets
Chemistry
Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
Richard Willson
Biology & Biochemistry
Esther Farfel Award

NSM Faculty Award for Excellence in Service

  • 2024
    Virginia (Jinny) Sisson, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 2023
    Nouhad Rizk, Computer Science
  • 2022
    W. Anthony Frankino, Biology & Biochemistry

NSM John C. Butler Excellence in Teaching Award

  • 2024
    Guoning Chen, Computer Science
  • 2023
    Daniel Hauptvogel, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
    Richard Meisel, Biology & Biochemistry
  • 2022
    Mariam Manuel, Mathematics (teachHOUSTON)
    Melissa Zastrow, Chemistry
  • 2021
    Tai-Yen Chen, Chemistry
    Lisa Farmer, Biology & Biochemistry
  • 2020
    Rebecca Forrest, Physics
    Oomman Varghese, Physics
  • 2019
    Melahat Almus, Mathematics
    Thomas Teets, Chemistry
  • 2018
    Rebecca Zufall, Biology & Biochemistry
  • 2017
    Shuhab Khan, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
    Chad Wayne, Biology & Biochemistry
  • 2016
    W. Anthony Frankino, Biology & Biochemistry
    Rebecca George, Mathematics
  • 2015
    Paige Evans, Mathematics (teachHOUSTON)
    Mark Tomforde, Mathematics
  • 2014
    Ann Cheek, Biology & Biochemistry
    Ognjen Miljanic, Chemistry
  • 2013
    Simon Bott, Chemistry
    Rob Stewart, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 2012
    Peter Copeland, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
    Rebecca Forrest, Physics
  • 2011
    Anne Delcour, Biology & Biochemistry
    Shishir Shah, Computer Science
  • 2010
    Michael Murphy, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 2009
    Gemunu Gunaratne, Physics
  • 2008
    Thomas Lapen, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 2007
    William Dupre, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
    Randolph Thummel, Chemistry
  • 2006
    Shiao-Chun Tu, Biology & Biochemistry

NSM Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Research

  • 2024
    Weiyi Peng, Biology & Biochemistry (CNRCS)
  • 2023
    Tai-Yen Chen, Chemistry
  • 2022
    Andreas Mang, Mathematics
  • 2021
    Andrew Renshaw, Physics
  • 2020
    Jakoah Brgoch, Chemistry
  • 2019
    Thomas Teets, Chemistry
  • 2018
    Loi Do, Chemistry
  • 2017
    Vaughn Climenhaga, Mathematics
  • 2016
    Guoning Chen, Computer Science
  • 2015
    Lisa Whitehead, Physics