FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2008
FY08-38
ORAU Awards Research Grants to 30 Junior Faculty at Its Member Universities
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 2008-2009 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.
Recipients of the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards for the 2008-2009 academic year are listed below:
| Award Recipient | Member Institution |
|---|---|
| Jin Wang | Auburn University |
| Erica Fuchs | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Kelvin Gregory | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Micah Luftig | Duke University |
| David Hwang | George Mason University |
| Francisco Hung | Louisiana State University |
| Heather Powell | Ohio State University |
| A. Kaan Kalkan | Oklahoma State University |
| Michael Hickner | Pennsylvania State University |
| Stephan Link | Rice University |
| Emilia Morosan | Rice University |
| Yuchun Du | University of Arkansas |
| Daniel Buchholz | University of Cincinnati |
| Jacob Jones | University of Florida |
| Christopher Crawford | University of Kentucky |
| Daphne Soares | University of Maryland |
| Shinghua Ding | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| John Grey | University of New Mexico |
| Elizabeth Dirk | University of New Mexico |
| Ana Jofre | University of North Carolina-Charlotte |
| Xiaohui Yuan | University of North Texas |
| Bibhudutta Rout | University of North Texas |
| Yongtao Zhang | University of Notre Dame |
| Megan Elwood Madden | University of Oklahoma |
| Mathew Kane | University of Oklahoma |
| Qiuhong Zhao | University of Tennessee |
| Sanwu Wang | University of Tulsa |
| Michael Philen | Virginia Tech |
| Young-Shin Jun | Washington University |
| Rita Rio | West Virginia University |
Since the program began 18 years ago, ORAU has awarded 368 grants totaling more than $1.75 million. Including the matching funds from member institutions, ORAU has facilitated grants worth more than $3 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 2009-2010 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 www.orau.org/consortium/programs or contact Ann Farler at (865) 576-1898, ann.farler@orau.org.
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 99 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies, and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.