2012 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Awards

ORAU awards 30 research grants for 2012-2013 academic year to junior faculty at its consortium member universities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2012
FY12-29

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—ORAU has awarded competitive research grants totaling $150,000 to 30 junior faculty from ORAU member institutions. The annual grants are made through the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards program that provides funds to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty.

The recipients, each of whom is in the first two years of a tenure track position, will receive $5,000 in “seed money” for the 2012-2013 academic year to enhance their research during the early stages of their career. Each recipient’s institution also matches the ORAU award with an additional $5,000, making the total prize worth $10,000 for each winner. Winners may use the grants to purchase equipment, continue research or travel to professional meetings and conferences.

Since the program’s inception, ORAU has awarded nearly 500 grants totaling more than $2.3 million. Including the matching funds from member institutions, ORAU has facilitated grants worth more than $4.4 million.

“The Powe awards recognize young faculty who want to establish research credentials and compete for new funding opportunities,” said Dr. Arlene A. Garrison, ORAU vice president of University Partnerships. “By supporting the research efforts of these emerging academic leaders, we are making a direct investment in the future of science and education in our country.”

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.

Recipients of the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards for the 2012-2013 academic year are listed below:

2012-13 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award Winners
Award Recipient	Sponsoring Institution
J. Rosie	Appalachian State University
Nico Hotz	Duke University
Jae Jung	East Carolina University
Chunlei Liang	George Washington University
James McKinlay	Indiana University
Lisa Kaufman	Indiana University
Michal Brylinski	Louisiana State University
Durdu Guney	Michigan Technological University
Xiaodong Yang	Missouri University of Science and Technology
Linyou Cao	North Carolina State University
Walter Weare	North Carolina State University
Toby Nelson	Oklahoma State University
Thushari Jayasekera	Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Jennifer Dworak	Southern Methodist University
Le Xie	Texas A&M University
Yong Chen	Texas Tech University
Brian Fisher	University of Alabama
Deb Jaisi	University of Delaware
Rebecca Butcher	University of Florida
Ribhu Kaul	University of Kentucky
Hongxiang Li	University of Louisville
Mark Running	University of Louisville
Emil Geiger	University of Nevada, Reno
Paul Leu	University of Pittsburgh
Jason Hattrick-Simpers	University of South Carolina
Guangbin Dong	University of Texas at Austin
Gregory Walsh	Virginia Commonwealth University
Amanda Morris	Virginia Tech
John Fortner	Washington University
Emily Martin	Wayne State University

The awards, now in their 22nd year, are named for Ralph E. Powe, who served as the ORAU councilor from Mississippi State University for 16 years. Powe participated in numerous committees and special projects during his tenure and 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 Awards program again for the 2013-2014 academic year. Faculty members at ORAU sponsoring institutions who are within two years of their initial tenure-track appointments as assistant professors are eligible to apply. The deadline to apply is Jan. 11, 2013.

For more information on fellowships, awards and grants offered by ORAU, visit www.orau.org/consortium/programs or contact Ann Farler at (865) 576-1898, ann.farler@orau.org.