Extraordinary members of the University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty have been honored during the last year with awards supported by the estate of professor, U.S. senator and UW Regent William F. Vilas (1840-1908).
Vilas Research Professorship
Samuel Gellman, Ralph F. Hirschmann Professor of Chemistry, was named to a Vilas Research Professorship.
Created “for the advancement of learning,” Vilas Research Professorships are granted to faculty with proven research ability and unusual qualifications and promise. The recipients of the award have contributed significantly to the research mission of the university, and are recognized both nationally and internationally.
Gellman joined the UW–Madison faculty in 1987. His laboratory has since helped to establish a new discipline of chemistry, combining tools and concepts from organic chemistry, biophysics and biology to design, synthesize and evaluate unnatural molecules that mimic the structures and functions of proteins and nucleic acids.
This research — spanning more than 300 publications — has been conducted in conjunction with dozens of graduate students and undergraduates, and Gellman, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, has enjoyed introducing thousands of undergraduates to organic chemistry in the classroom.
The professorship provides a salary supplement, funding for research expenses and a retirement supplement for faculty who serve at least 15 years as a Vilas Research Professor.
Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships
Twelve professors — nine from L&S — were named to Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships, an award recognizing distinguished scholarship as well as standout efforts in teaching and service. The professorship provides five years of flexible funding — two-thirds of which is provided by the Office of the Provost through the generosity of the Vilas trustees and one-third provided by the school or college whose dean nominated the winner.
The recipients are:
- Amy Quan Barry, English (L&S)
- AnHai Doan, Computer Sciences (L&S)
- Richard Hsung, Pharmacy (Pharmacy)
- Ullrich Langer, French and Italian (L&S)
- Katherine Magnuson, Social Work (L&S)
- Melanie Matchett Wood, Mathematics (L&S)
- Joel Pedersen, Soil Science (CALS)
- Anne Pringle, Botany (L&S)
- Parmesh Ramanathan, Electrical & Computer Engineering (Engineering)
- Jenny Saffran, Psychology (L&S)
- Lones Smith, Economics (L&S)
- Scott Straus, Political Science (L&S)
Vilas Faculty Mid-Career Investigator Awards
Sixteen professors — seven from L&S — received Vilas Faculty Mid-Career Investigator Awards, recognizing research and teaching excellence. The award provides flexible research funding for one year.
The recipients are:
- Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau, Computer Sciences (L&S)
- Jeri Barak, Plant Pathology (CALS)
- Lyric Bartholomay, Pathobiological Sciences (Veterinary Medicine)
- Guillermina De Ferrari, Spanish and Portuguese (L&S)
- Deborah Ehrenthal, Obstetrics and Gynecology (Medicine & Public Health)
- Felix Elwert, Sociology (L&S)
- Audrey Gasch, Genetics (Medicine & Public Health)
- Kristine Kwekkeboom, Nursing (Nursing)
- Xuejun Pan, Biological Systems Engineering (CALS)
- M. Zachariah Peery, Forest and Wildlife Ecology (CALS)
- Marzena Rostek, Economics (L&S)
- Oliver Schmitz, Engineering Physics (Engineering)
- Jennifer Schomaker, Chemistry (L&S)
- Lyn Van Swol, Communication Arts (L&S)
- Jason Yackee, Law (Law)
- Tehshik Yoon, Chemistry (L&S)
Vilas Faculty Early Career Investigator Awards
Eleven professors — five from L&S — received Vilas Faculty Early Career Investigator Awards, recognizing research and teaching excellence in faculty who are relatively early in their careers. The award provides flexible research funding for one year.
The recipients are:
- Christy Clark-Pujara, Afro-American Studies (L&S)
- Ricki Colman, Cell and Regenerative Biology (Medicine & Public Health)
- Christelle Guédot, Entomology (CALS)
- Chris Hittinger, Genetics (CALS)
- Sarah Paul, Philosophy (L&S)
- Robert Redfield, Surgery (Medicine & Public Health)
- Karu Sankaralingam, Computer Sciences (L&S)
- Raluca Scarlat, Engineering Physics (Engineering)
- Linsey Steege, Nursing (Nursing)
- Lu Wang, Mathematics (L&S)
- Stephen Young, Geography (L&S)
Story courtesy of University Communications.
