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ORAU Awards Research Grants to 30 Junior Faculty at Its Member Universities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2009
FY09-52

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—In an effort to invest in the future of science education, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) has made its annual selection of Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award winners. ORAU has chosen 30 junior faculty from its member institutions to receive the award for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Each junior faculty winner will receive a $5,000 grant, which is intended to enhance their research and professional growth and result in new funding opportunities during the early stages of their careers. Each recipient’s institution matches the ORAU award with an additional $5,000, making the total prize worth $10,000 for each winner.

The awards recognize faculty members for their work in any of five science and technology disciplines: engineering or applied science; life sciences; mathematics and computer science; physical sciences; and policy, management or education. Winners may use the grants to purchase equipment, continue their research or travel to professional meetings and conferences.

Award Recipient	Member Institution
Chuan-Hua Chen	Duke University
Patrick Charbonneau	Duke University
Maria Emelianenko	George Mason University
Stefan France	Georgia Institute of Technology
Todd Davis	Idaho State University
Dionne Cross	Indiana University
Kai Loon Chen	Johns Hopkins University
Michael Benton	Louisiana State University
Donghui Zhang	Louisiana State University
Chih-Wei Lai	Michigan State University
Ty Schmidt	Mississippi State University
Junmin Wang	Ohio State University
Cynthia Rice-York	Tennessee Technological University
Shannon Servoss	University of Arkansas
Ayman Abouraddy	University of Central Florida
Kelly Dyer	University of Georgia
Inseok Song	University of Georgia
Eva Chi	University of New Mexico
Andrew Madden	University of Oklahoma
Ipsita Banerjee	University of Pittsburgh
Jon Boyle	University of Pittsburgh
Yaling Liu	University of Texas at Arlington
Sarah Dooling	University of Texas at Austin
Michael Shirts	University of Virginia
Amy Throckmorton	Virginia Commonwealth University
Jeremiah Abiade	Virginia Tech
Pablo Sobrado	Virginia Tech
Jennifer Erway	Wake Forest University
Timo Thonhauser	Wake Forest University
Kimberly Barnes	West Virginia University

Since the program began 19 years ago, ORAU has awarded 398 grants totaling more than $1.9 million. Including the matching funds from member institutions, ORAU has facilitated grants worth more than $4 million.

The awards are named for Ralph E. Powe, who served as the ORAU councilor from Mississippi State University for 16 years, participating in numerous committees and special projects during his tenure. He was elected chair of ORAU’s Council of Sponsoring Institutions prior to his death in 1996.

ORAU plans to offer the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award program again for the 2010-2011 academic year. Faculty members at ORAU member institutions who are within two years of their initial tenure-track appointments as assistant professors are eligible for the grants.

For more information on fellowships, awards and grants offered by ORAU, visit Faculty and Student Programs on the ORAU web site, or contact Ann Farler at (865) 576-1898, .