Accolades News for Researchers
Posted June 3, 2022 by Tiffany Lee
Awards, Honors and Recognitions
Michael Burton, textiles, merchandising and fashion design; Kwakiutl Dreher, English;and William G, Thomas, history, produced “Bell Affair,” an animated film tracking the true story of Daniel and Mary Bell, who led one of the largest attempts to escape from slavery in American history. The film had its world premiere June 2 at Publick Playhouse in Prince George’s County, Maryland, which is part of the greater Washington, D.C., area.
Chris Calkins, animal science (emeritus), received the Fellow Award for Research from the American Society of Animal Science. The award recognizes an ASAS member who has rendered very distinguished service to the animal industry and/or to the organization and has had continuous membership in ASAS for at least 25 years. Over the course of his career, Calkins has published several hundred peer-reviewed publications, secured six patents and received millions in research support. He co-led the beef muscle profiling project, which developed the flat iron steak and other new meat cuts, with an estimated annual impact of $1.5 billion.
Matthias Fuchs,physics and astronomy, was named a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. The designation earned him an invitation to the 2022 U.S. Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium, where he presented research in ultrafast and high-field X-ray science. Fuchs, part of the university’s Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics group, was among 39 Kavli Fellows selected by a committee of academy members.
David Hage, chemistry, received the Outstanding Contributions to Education in Clinical Chemistry award from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. The award recognizes individuals who have devoted a major portion of their professional life to enhancing the practice and profession of clinical chemistry through education. Hage and his students focus on the theory, development and use of affinity-based separations in high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. Hage has mentored more than 80 undergraduate students and 75 graduate students, resulting in about 80 Ph.D. or M.S. degrees. Many of his students have entered the fields of clinical chemistry or biomedical research.
Margaret Jacobs, history, co-produced “Return of the Pawnees,” which was selected as the Gold Winner in the General-Television category of the Telly Awards. The awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens, annually judging more than 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents. Jacobs’ film chronicles how the Pawnees, once exiled from Nebraska, are reestablishing a presence in their homeland following an act of reconciliation. The Reconciliation Rising project, which Jacobs co-directs, developed the film.
Ronald Lewis, animal science, received a Fellow Award for Research from the American Society of Animal Science. The award recognizes an ASAS member who has rendered very distinguished service to the animal industry and/or to the organization and has had continuous membership in ASAS for a minimum of 25 years. Lewis, an expert in quantitative genetics and genomics, has published 93 peer-reviewed journal articles and received more than $16.5 million in grant funding. His leadership led to deployment of genomic selection in the U.S. sheep industry and development of online education that helped students from over 30 American and five international academic institutions.
Phillip Miller, animal science, received the AFIA Award in Nonruminant Nutrition Research from the American Society of Animal Science. The award recognizes an individual who has contributed to and published outstanding work in the last 10 years focused on non-ruminant nutrition. Miller, an expert in swine nutrition, focuses his research on the nutritional constraints of growth, pregnancy and lactation in pigs. Recently, he collaborated with fellow Husker researchers to examine the effects of nutrition on the microbiota and gut health of nursery pigs.
Wei Qiao, electrical and computer engineering, was named a fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association. AAIA is a new academic, nonprofit and non-governmental organization formed by an international group of researchers who focus on artificial intelligence or related areas. The association’s aim is to promote the development and application of AI in different fields of science and technology.
Jian Wang,mechanical and materials engineering, was named a fellow of ASM International, the world’s largest and most established materials information society. Fellows are selected for their distinguished contributions to materials science and engineering and serve as advisers to the society. Wang was selected for significant contributions in the fundamental understanding of defects-microstructures-properties relations of metals and alloys, especially for the interface strengthening and deformation twinning utilizing atomistic simulation, crystallographic analysis and modeling, and experimental characterization.
Tian Zhang, civil and environmental engineering, was selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a Distinguished Member, the association’s highest honor. He was selected for his exemplary work as an educator and researcher, particularly his development of innovative technologies in water and wastewater treatment and pollution control. Zhang and the rest of the ASCE Distinguished Members will be honored Oct. 24 at the organization’s convention in Anaheim, California.
Publications
Authors and books affiliated with the University of Nebraska Press have recently received recognition:
- “Deer Season,” written by Erin Flanagan and published by UNP, received the 2022 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel. The novel, set in a rural Nebraska community in 1985, focuses on the town’s reaction and dynamics after a teenage girl goes missing. Flanagan has bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as a Ph.D. in English, from Nebraska.
- David Davis, who wrote “Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku,” is a featured speaker in the new PBS documentary “American Masters: Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha.” It profiles swimming and surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, who won five medals, three gold, over three Olympic games in swimming. He went on to become a surfing ambassador to the world and is known as the father of modern surfing. Davis’ book was published by UNP in 2015 and is now available in paperback.
Other News
Clinton Krehbiel was appointed to another five-year term as head of the Department of Animal Science, a role he’s served in since 2017. Krehbiel, Marvel L. Baker Professor of animal science, has led the department in adopting a strategic framework, growing undergraduate enrollment, hiring talented faculty, increasing research funding and expenditures, and collaborating with industry and other partners. Krehbiel, who was raised on a diversified farm near McPherson, Kansas, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University and a doctorate from Nebraska.
Alan Mattingly, music, was named the interim director of the Glenn Korff School of Music. He started May 23 and will continue until a new director is appointed. Mattingly has served as the school’s assistant director since 2018 and has been teaching at Nebraska since 2006. He teaches the applied horn studio, conducts the Husker Horn Choir and performs with the Moran Woodwind Quintet and Faculty Brass Quintet. He replaces Sergio H. Ruiz, who stepped down as director and is returning to the faculty. The search for a permanent director will begin in the fall.
Emily Rau, University Libraries, took over as editor of the Willa Cather Archive on April 1. She contributed to the project for the last eight years, the last four as managing editor. She will continue to be a leader of the Recovery Hub for American Women Writers, will participate in many departmental and center initiatives, serve on committees and working groups and consult with faculty and staff on a range of issues. Rau completed a doctorate in American literature in 2021 and is a Cather Scholar.
Marty Sikes will serve as associate executive director for chemical and biological defense programs at the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska. In this role, he will lead NSRI scientists, engineers and former operators and engage NU researchers in providing innovative solutions to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies working within the countering weapons of mass destruction mission space. Sikes is a retired U.S. Navy medical service corps officer with specializations in public health, biological defense, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear medical preparedness and operations.
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