Accolades News for Researchers
Posted October 2, 2026 by Tiffany Lee
Honors and Recognitions
Emmanuel Aidoo, chemistry, received the Leadership in Science Advocacy Award from the American Chemical Society. The award, part of the ACS Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars Recognition Program, recognizes graduate students who demonstrate leadership in advocating for science and strengthening the chemistry community through outreach, engagement and support for underrepresented and early-career scientists. Aidoo’s research focuses on using synthetic molecules to probe RNA.
Erin Blankenship, agricultural economics, received the ASA Mentoring Award from the American Statistical Association. The award recognizes an association member who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in developing the careers of statistics students, statisticians or statistical researchers early in their careers. Blankenship is an expert in statistics education and has an extensive record of preparing teachers, including K-12 and graduate student instructors, to teach statistics in the classroom.
Nicole Buan, biochemistry, earned the 2026 Innovator Award from Nebraska Women in STEM. Buan’s research focuses on redox biochemistry and the synthetic biology of microbes and plants, with potential applications in sustainable bioenergy and agriculture. She was named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors in 2026, holds several patents and co-founded the Nebraska startup Molecular Trait Evolution. Nebraska Women in STEM is a collaborative initiative of Bio Nebraska and Nebraska Cures aimed at reducing career barriers and addressing industry workforce shortages by providing professional development, networking and mentorship opportunities for women across the state. The group will recognize Buan at an Oct. 29 celebration in Omaha.
Mun Yuk Chin, educational psychology, received the Early Career Professional Teaching Award from the Society of Counseling Psychology, which is Division 17 of the American Psychological Association. The award recognizes the contributions of an early career professional in the role of teacher in an undergraduate or graduate setting. Chin was honored for her efforts to train culturally responsive and congruent psychologists and counselors.
Carolina Còrdova, agronomy and horticulture and natural resources, received a Commendation Award from the Nebraska Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. The award is a state recognition to chapter members for their service and professional achievement. Còrdova co-organized and co-hosted the chapter’s 2025 state meeting at East Campus and advances the SWCS mission through her work as a soil health specialist, researcher and extension educator. She was recognized June 26 at the Nebraska chapter meeting in Ord.
Catherine Eichhorn, chemistry, received the American Chemical Society’s E. Ann Nalley Midwest Region Award for Volunteer Service. The award honors volunteer service that advances the chemistry community and supports others. Eichhorn was selected for her commitment to creating opportunities for students, early career scientists and others to engage with chemistry. Since joining Nebraska in 2019, she has led and participated in outreach activities reaching hundreds of Nebraska students and mentored 24 high school and undergraduate students.
Elizabeth Exstrom, Nebraska Extension, received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. The award recognized Exstrom’s contributions to agricultural extension and her service to the association, a professional organization representing extension educators, agents and specialists nationwide. She was honored at the organization’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference, held July 11 in Denver.
Shoun Hill, journalism, had his film “I’m Just a Layman in Pursuit of Justice – Black Farmers Fight Against USDA” selected for the 2026 IndieFest. The film received the Award of Merit: African American Theme; Award of Recognition: African American Filmmaker; and Award of Recognition: Documentary Feature. Hill was also named a finalist in the 2026 Dodho Portrait Awards.
Kathryn Holland, psychology and women’s and gender studies, received the Louise Kidder Early Career Award from the Society for the Psychology Study of Social Issues, which is Division 9 of the American Psychological Association. The award recognizes researchers who have made substantial contributions to the social issues fields early in their careers. Holland’s research investigates how people’s health and well-being are influenced by their social environments, with a focus on formal support systems, social norms and interpersonal processes.
Mark Pegg, natural resources, was inducted into the Fisheries Management Hall of Excellence. This is the highest honor given by the Fisheries Management Section of the American Fisheries Society. Inductees are selected based on outstanding and cumulative contributions to the advancement of the fisheries management profession. Pegg, a professor of fish ecology, conducts research focused on fish population dynamics, community structure and control of invasive species in large rivers. He also teaches courses covering the basics of fish population management and freshwater ecosystems and has played a role in the significant growth of the fisheries and wildlife major at UNL.
Max Perry Mueller, classics and religious studies, was selected as a 2026-27 Public Fellow by the Public Religion Research Institute. He was among nine interdisciplinary scholars selected nationwide for the fellowship, which supports research and public-facing analysis at the intersection of religion, culture and politics through PRRI’s Religion and Protecting Democracy Initiative.
Mark Svoboda, natural resources and director of the National Drought Mitigation Center, was elected a fellow of the AGU, the world’s largest Earth and space sciences association. The organization bestows this honor annually to less than 0.1% of AGU members, who are selected for their scientific eminence. Fellows act as external experts, advising government agencies and other organizations outside the sciences upon request. Svoboda was also selected for the AGU Ambassador Award, which honors individuals whose achievements extend beyond those recognized by traditional scientific discipline awards. Svoboda was selected for his exemplary leadership and outstanding scientific achievements, which have significantly advanced the understanding of drought monitoring, mitigation and planning. He will be recognized in December at AGU’s 2026 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Karin van Dijk, biochemistry, was named the 2026 Woman in Science by Nebraska Cures, a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports scientific research and health science education. She was selected for building a scholar-teacher program that brings together laboratory research, biochemistry education, mentoring and authentic research experiences. Van Dijk’s research spans plant-pathogen interactions, chromatin regulation, microbiomes and antibiotic resistance. Her work has impacted K-12 outreach, curriculum development and initiatives such as Nebraska IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence. Van Dijk was honored at a Sept. 24 event in Lincoln.
Two Husker engineering faculty startups, sponsored by NUtech Ventures, were selected from a pool of nationwide applicants to participate in Innosphere’s 2026 Life Sciences Incubator. Through the program, Greg Bashford, biological systems engineering, and Eric Markvicka, mechanical and materials engineering, will receive hands-on development, strategic mentorship and investor connections. The incubator is supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and draws startups developing some of the most compelling emerging innovations in the life sciences.
- Bashford’s startup, Neurosound, is developing a handheld ultrasound device intended to give medical personnel a clearer picture of cerebral blood flow during situations like cardiac arrest or resuscitation. The device would provide rapid, non-invasive information about blood flow in real time.
- Markvicka’s startup, Sentinel Rhythm Health, is developing AirHalo, a wearable platform designed to detect changes associated with childhood asthma before they develop into more serious symptoms. Currently, symptoms are managed after they occur; AirHalo aims to provide earlier detection and better treatment, with the larger goal of helping children remain active and independent.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was among the first 14 institutions in the nation to earn a new Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. The designation recognizes institutions that integrate sustainability across areas including curriculum, research, operations, career preparation and community engagement. Nebraska was one of the 21 institutions selected for the 2025 pilot program that led to the new classification, which is now hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. The designation recognizes the Nebraska research community’s efforts to advance knowledge related to complex sustainability challenges, particularly in the areas of soil health and carbon storage, climate-resilient agriculture, food security, flood resilience, and the social and economic vitality of rural communities.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers are part of the interdisciplinary team that won agInnovation’s 2026 Excellence in Multistate Research Award for work enhancing the reproductive performance of cattle and sheep. The award honors scientists working collaboratively across state lines to develop solutions to regional or national issues. Over its 56-year legacy, Hatch Multistate project W4112: Reproductive Performance in Domestic Ruminants has driven discovery and solutions that have reshaped industry practices and sparked gains in productivity and resilience. Andrea Cupp, animal science, accepted the award on behalf of the multistate team. Cupp has played a major role in the project, contributing research focused on new approaches to better understand the biological mechanisms that influence puberty and reproductive function in cattle.
Publications
Rob Campbell, management, received the 2026 Best Reviewer Award from the Academy of Management Journal, one of the leading business journals. The Academy of Management presents the annual award to editorial board members and peer reviewers who provide exceptionally insightful, developmental and timely evaluations of submitted papers. Campbell received the honor at the academy’s annual meeting in August in Philadelphia.
Massimiliano Pierobon, computing, and doctoral student Shohaib Shaffiey co-authored a paper presented at the 2026 International Conference on Machine Learning, held July 6-11 in Seoul, South Korea. The paper introduces a machine learning architecture designed to model biological processes occurring across different timescales, with potential applications in disease modeling, drug discovery and drug repurposing. Shaffiey presented the research at the conference.
Professional Service
Jeffrey L. Day, architecture, presented his lecture “Whichcraft” at Montana State University on Sept. 28. The lecture covered craft, construction tolerance and conflicting expectations within a range of projects by Actual Architecture Co., which Day co-founded, and the UNL student design-build practice FACT.
Other News
Nicole Buan, biochemistry; Amanda Ramer-Tait, food science and technology; and Brian Wardlow, natural resources and director of the Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies, were named acting associate deans of the Agricultural Research Division. The three part-time appointments will help advance strategic research opportunities, strengthen collaboration and support ARD operations during a leadership transition. Each will make contributions according to their area of expertise:
- Buan will lead efforts to advance innovation and growth in Nebraska’s bioeconomy.
- Ramer-Tait will focus on building connections across agriculture, food and medicine that improves human health while expanding partnerships with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and other strategic collaborators.
- Wardlow will focus on remote sensing and geographic information systems and their applications in agriculture and natural resource management, including drought monitoring, climate-vegetation dynamics, plant stress response and land-use and land-cover change.
Jessica Jonson was named the interim director for the Buros Center for Testing, an independent, non-profit research center within the College of Education and Human Sciences. Jonson has been with the Buros Center since 2011, most recently serving as research professor and associate director for assessment literacy. Jonson joined the university as a staff member in 1999, becoming a universitywide assessment coordinator for three years before becoming director of institutional assessment. She moved to Buros and the Department of Educational Psychology in 2011. Jonson earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from UNL.
Research News Accolades Submission Form
