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
- National, International and State Honors
- University Recognition
- NSM John C. Butler Excellence in Teaching Award
- NSM Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Research
Academy Members
| Name & Position | Organization |
|---|---|
| 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, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Engineering, Academia Sinica, Third World Academy of Sciences |
| Roland Glowinski Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mathematics |
French National Academy of Technology, French National Order of the Academic Palms |
| Jan-Åke Gustafsson Cullen Distinguished Professor of Biology and 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 Cullen Professor |
Kazakhstan National Academy of Sciences |
| Yuri Kuznetsov M.D. Anderson Professor of Mathematics |
Russian Academy of Sciences |
| John Suppe Distinguished Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
National Academy of Sciences |
National, International and State Honors
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Jakoah Brgoch Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Richard Meisel Biology & Biochemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Ognjen Miljanic Chemistry |
Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Thomas Teets Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Jonny Wu Earth & Atmospheric Sciences |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Eric Bittner Chemistry |
Leverhulme Visiting Professorship |
| Olafs Daugulis Chemistry |
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow |
| Loi Do Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Shiv Halasyamani Chemistry |
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow |
| Allan J. Jacobson Chemistry |
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow |
| Thomas Lapen Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Geological Society of America Fellow |
| Ognjen Miljanic Chemistry |
Humboldt Research Fellowship Max Kade Foundation Fellowship |
| Zhifeng Ren Physics |
Humboldt Research Award |
| Min Ru Mathematics |
American Mathematical Society Fellow |
| Virginia Sisson Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Fellow, Mineralogical Society of America |
| Judy Wu Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Mini Das Physics |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Qi Fu Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Scott Gilbertson Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Fellow |
| Eva Harth Chemistry |
Gutenberg Chair Award |
| Karl Kadish Chemistry |
Société Chimique de France French-American Prize |
| Claudia Ratti Physics |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Ding-Shyue (Jerry) Yang Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Eric Bittner Chemistry |
American Physical Society Fellow |
| Eric Bittner Chemistry |
Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Maurice Brookhart Chemistry |
The Ralph and Helen Oesper Award |
| Guoning Chen Computer Science |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Vaughn Climenhaga Mathematics |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Arthur Weglein Physics |
Society of Exploration Geophysicists Maurice Ewing Gold Medal |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| John F. Casey Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Geological Society of America Fellow |
| Yingcai Zheng Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
J. Clarence Karcher Award, Society of Exploration Geophysicists |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Kevin E. Bassler Physics |
American Physical Society Fellow |
| Kevin Burke Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Arthur Holmes Medal & Honorary Membership European Geosciences Union |
| Suncica Canic Mathematics |
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Fellow |
| Olafs Daugulis Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award |
| George Fox Biology and Biochemistry |
International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life Fellow |
| Yuliya Gorb Mathematics |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Dan Graur Biology and Biochemistry |
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow |
| P. Shiv Halasyamani Chemistry |
Roy-Somiya Award, International Solvothermal and Hydrothermal Association |
| Allan Jacobson Chemistry |
National Academy of Inventors |
| Jeremy May Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Mary Ann Ottinger Biology and Biochemistry |
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow |
| Zhifeng Ren Physics |
Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Science from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas |
| Wu-Pei Su Physics |
American Physical Society Fellow |
| Richard Willson Biology and Biochemistry |
American Chemical Society Fellow, National Academy of Inventors |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Margaret Cheung Physics |
American Physical Society Fellow |
| Timothy Cooper Biology and Biochemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Olafs Daugulis Chemistry |
The Welch Foundation Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research |
| Roland Glowinski Mathematics |
American Mathematical Society Fellow |
| Ognjen Miljanic Chemistry |
Cottrell Scholar Award |
| Jeff Morgan Mathematics |
Piper Professor |
| Michael A. Murphy Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Geological Society of America Fellow |
| Daniel Onofrei Mathematics |
Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Research Program Grant |
| Don Van Nieuwenhuise Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
American Association of Petroleum Geologists Public Service Award |
| Zhifeng Ren Physics |
National Academy of Inventors |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Simon Bott Chemistry |
Piper Professor |
| Eric Bittner Chemistry |
Fulbright Scholar |
| C.W. Paul Chu Physics |
National Academy of Inventors Charter Fellow |
| Karl M. Kadish Chemistry |
Hans Fischer Career Award in Porphyrin Chemistry |
| Ognjen Miljanic Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Angela Moeller Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Lawrence Pinsky Physics |
International Academy of Astronautics |
| Jingmei Qiu Mathematics |
Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Research Program Grant |
| Lisa Whitehead Physics |
Department of Energy Early Career Research Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Rigoberto Advincula Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Polymer Division Fellow |
| Rigoberto Advincula Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Polymer Materials Science and Engineering Division Fellow |
| Dan Graur Chemistry |
Humboldt Research Award |
| Vassiliy Lubchenko Chemistry |
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow |
| Mamie Moy Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Rigoberto Advincula Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Fellow |
| Stuart Dryer Biology and Biochemistry |
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Edgar Gabriel Computer Science |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Jan-Åke Gustafsson Biology and Biochemistry |
Fernström Foundation's Nordic Prize |
| Vassiliy Lubchenko Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Ognjen Miljanic Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Greater Houston Section Younger Chemist Award |
| Mamie Moy Chemistry |
American Chemical Society Fellow |
| Carlos Ordóñez Physics |
American Physical Society John Wheatley Award |
| Steven Pennings Biology and Biochemistry |
Society of Wetland Scientists Merit Award |
| Arthur B. Weglein Physics |
Society of Exploration Geophysicists Reginald Fessenden Award |
| Richard Willson Biology and Biochemistry |
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| John Dewey Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Honorary Member Royal Irish Academy |
| Olafs Daugulis Chemistry |
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar |
| Demetrio Labate Mathematics |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Vassiliy Lubchenko Chemistry |
Beckman Young Investigator Award |
| B. Montgomery Pettitt Chemistry |
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Jolante Van Wijk Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
International Lithosphere Program Flinn-Hart Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Kevin Burke Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Geological Society of America Penrose Award |
| Olafs Daugulis Chemistry |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Aibing Li Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Janok Bhattacharya Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
American Association of Petroleum Geologists Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator |
| Eric Bittner Chemistry |
John Simon Guggenheim Fellow |
| Olafs Daugulis Chemistry |
Synlett and Synthesis Journal Awardee |
| John Dewey Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Geological Society of America Structure and Tectonics Career Contributor Award |
| Kristopher Innanen Physics |
Society of Exploration Geophysicists J. Clarence Karcher Award |
| Rong Zheng Computer Science |
National Science Foundation CAREER Award |
University Recognition
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Jakoah Brgoch Chemistry |
Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award |
| Vaughn Climenhaga Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Galapago! Teaching Team: Ricardo Azevedo, Ann Cheek, Tony Frankino, Andrew Hamilton, Marc Hanke, Rebecca Zufall Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Group Teaching |
| Geophysical Field Camp Team: Shuhab Khan, Chang Li, Will Sager, Rob Stewart, Guoquan “Bob” Wang, Jingjing Zong Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Teaching Excellence Award – Group Teaching |
| Daniel Hauptvogel Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical |
| Donna Pattison Biology & Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost’s Core |
| Claudia Ratti Physics |
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Associate Professor |
| Lowell Wood Physics |
Teaching Excellence Career Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Suncica Canic Mathematics |
Esther Farfel Award |
| Ann Cheek Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical |
| Mini Das Physics |
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Assistant Professor |
| Rebecca George Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost’s Core |
| Shuhab Khan Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award |
| Zhifeng Ren Physics |
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Professor |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Edgar Bering Physics |
Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award |
| Introductory Biology Teaching Team: Ann Cheek, Richard Knapp, Ana Medrano, Monique Ogletree,
Donna Pattison,
Dan Wells,
Lawrence Williams Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Group Teaching |
| Don Coltart Chemistry |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Assistant Professor Teaching Excellence Award |
| Timothy Cooper Biology and Biochemistry |
Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award |
| Enhancing University Physics 1 & 2 through an Inquiry-Based Approach: Rebecca Forrest,
Sladjana Maric,
Donna Stokes,
Oomman Varghese,
Lowell Wood Physics |
Teaching Excellence Award – Group Teaching |
| W. Anthony Frankino Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Steven Pennings Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructional Technology |
| Jing Mei Qiu Mathematics |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Associate Professor |
| Nouhad Rizk Computer Science |
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Bernhard Bodmann Mathematics |
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity - Associate Professor Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research |
| Margaret Cheung Physics |
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity - Associate Professor |
| George E. Fox Biology and Biochemistry |
Esther Farfel Award |
| Perri Segura Mathematics (teachHOUSTON) |
Teaching Excellence - Instructor/Clinical |
| Mark Tomforde Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence – Community Engagement |
| Chang Yun Computer Science |
Teaching Excellence - Instructor/Clinical |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Melahat Almus Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence - Instructor/Clinical |
| Albert M.K. Cheng Computer Science |
Lifetime Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research |
| Rebecca Forrest Physics |
Teaching Excellence - Instructor/Clinical |
| Daniel Frigo Biology and Biochemistry |
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity - Assistant Professor |
| Dan Graur Biology and Biochemistry |
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity - Professor |
| Matthew Nicol Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Steven Baldelli Chemistry |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Associate Professor |
| Paige Evans, Maria Benzon, Perri Segura and Leah McAlister-Shields Mathematics, teachHOUSTON Program |
Teaching Excellence – Group Teaching Award |
| Rebecca George Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence – Instructor/Clinical |
| Shuhab Khan Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Barry Lefer Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Teaching Excellence – Provost’s Core |
| Ognjen Miljanić Chemistry |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Assistant Professor |
| William Ott Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Robert Stewart Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Randy Thummel Chemistry |
Teaching Excellence Career Award |
| Cecilia Williams Biology and Biochemistry |
Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award – Pre-Tenure |
| Jokūbas Žiburkus Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Paige K. Evans Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence – Instructor/Clinical |
| Rakesh Verma Computer Science |
Lifetime Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research |
| Chad M. Wayne Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence – Instructor/Clinical |
| Chang H. Yun, Jose Baez-Francheschi, Zhigang Deng and Olin Johnson Computer Science, Interactive Game Development Program |
Teaching Excellence – Group Teaching Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Pam Balthazar Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical |
| Margaret Cheung Physics |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Assistant Professor |
| Tim Cooper Biology and Biochemistry |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Assistant Professor |
| Tim Cooper Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Ed Hungerford Physics |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Professor |
| Kresimir Josic Mathematics |
Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship – Associate Professor |
| Jeremy A. May Chemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Ognjen Miljanic Chemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Innovation in Instructional Technology |
| Jeff Morgan Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award – Community Engagement |
| Donna L. Pattison Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical |
| Lawrence R. Williams Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Simon Bott Chemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award Instructor/Clinical Award |
| Michael Murphy Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Teaching Excellence Award Provost Core Award |
| Donna Stokes Physics |
Provost Faculty Advising Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising |
| Dan Wells Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award Career Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Rigoberto Advincula Chemistry |
Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research |
| Mary Bean Chemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award: Instructor/Clinical |
| Olaf Daugulis Chemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Bill Dupre Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Provost Faculty Advising Award |
| Rong Zheng Computer Science |
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Olafs Daugulis Chemistry |
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| Rebecca Forest Physics |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Arnold Guloy | Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| P. Shiv Halasyamani Chemistry |
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| James Benbrook Physics |
Provost's Core Teaching Excellence Award |
| Eric Bittner Chemistry |
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| Simon Bott Chemistry |
Provost Faculty Advising Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising |
| William Dupré Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Provost's Core Teaching Excellence Award |
| Virginia Leigh Hollyer Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award: Instructor/Clinical |
| Vern Paulsen Mathematics |
Teaching Excellence Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Rigoberto Advincula Chemistry |
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| Steven Baldelli Chemistry |
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| Peter Copeland Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Provost's Core Teaching Excellence Award |
| Jaspal Subhlok Computer Science |
Innovation in Instructional Technology Award |
| Name & Department | Award |
|---|---|
| Costa Colbert Biology and Biochemistry |
Teaching Excellence Award, Tenure or Tenure Track |
| Stuart Dryer Biology and Biochemistry |
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award |
| Craig Larson Mathematics |
Non-tenure Teaching Excellence Award |
| T. Randall Lee Chemistry |
Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research |
| Lawrence Williams Biology and Biochemistry |
George Magner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising |
NSM John C. Butler Excellence in Teaching Award (Application Process)
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Melahat Almus | Mathematics |
| Thomas Teets | Chemistry |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Rebecca Zufall | Biology and Biochemistry |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Shuhab Khan | Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Chad Wayne | Biology and Biochemistry |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| W. Anthony Frankino | Biology and Biochemistry |
| Rebecca George | Mathematics |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Paige Evans | teachHOUSTON |
| Mark Tomforde | Mathematics |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Ann Cheek | Biology and Biochemistry |
| Ognjen Miljanic | Chemistry |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Simon Bott | Chemistry |
| Rob Stewart | Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Peter Copeland | Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Rebecca Forrest | Physics |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Anne Delcour | Biology and Biochemistry |
| Shishir Shah | Computer Science |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Michael Murphy | Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Gemunu Gunaratne | Physics |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Thomas Lapen | Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| William Dupre | Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Randolph Thummel | Chemistry |
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Shiao-Chun Tu | Biology and Biochemistry |
NSM Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Research (Nomination Process)
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| Thomas Teets | Chemistry |
| 2018 | |
| Loi Do | Chemistry |
| 2017 | |
| Vaughn Climenhaga | Mathematics |
| 2016 | |
| Guoning Chen | Computer Science |
| 2015 | |
| Lisa Whitehead | Physics |