Awards Include UH’s Highest Faculty Honor – the Esther Farfel Award – a Moores Professorship and Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Undergraduate Research Mentoring
Seven College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics faculty members and one graduate student were honored for excellence in the areas of teaching, mentoring, research, service and scholarship.
The awards, given each year at the “UH Faculty Excellence Awards Dinner,” are one of the highest honors bestowed by the University of Houston.
“Teaching, research and mentoring are embedded in the core values of the college. My congratulations to these outstanding recipients for the impact they are making on student success and our research program,” said Dan E. Wells, NSM dean.
Suncica Canic – Esther Farfel Award Winner
Suncica Canic, the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair of Mathematics, received the University’s highest faculty honor – the Esther Farfel Award. The award, which carries a $10,000 cash prize, recognizes excellence in teaching, research and service. Canic is one of the world’s leading researchers in the area of mathematical modeling and scientific computing related to cardiovascular science, establishing numerous collaborations with physicians and researchers in the Texas Medical Center. She is only the sixth woman to receive the award in 40 years.
Cheung Receives Moores Professorship
Five-year, renewable Moores Professorships are given to faculty who are outstanding in teaching, research and service. Recipients of this prestigious award receive a $10,000 stipend annually. Three Moores Professorships were awarded in 2018, one to an NSM faculty member.
Recipient:
Margaret Cheung, Physics
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Professor
UH presents two awards at the Professor rank to individuals who have a substantial continuing record of outstanding research, scholarship or creative activities.
Recipient:
Zhifeng Ren, Physics
Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity – Assistant Professor
UH presents two awards at the Assistant Professor rank to individuals who have demonstrated great potential in research, scholarship or creative endeavors by virtue of the exceptional quality of their early contributions.
Recipient:
Mini Das, Physics
Teaching Excellence Award – Provost’s Core
This award is given to faculty in recognition of outstanding teaching in the core curriculum.
Recipient:
Rebecca George, Mathematics
Teaching Excellence Award – Instructor/Clinical
This award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching by faculty instructors, clinical faculty, research faculty, artist affiliates, and lecturers.
Recipient:
Ann Cheek, Biology & Biochemistry
Teaching Excellence Award – Graduate Teaching Assistant
This award is given to graduate students in recognition of outstanding teaching.
Recipient:
Daniela Rodriguez, Chemistry
Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award
This award recognizes the mentorship efforts of UH faculty at all stages of their careers. The award acknowledges faculty who are making a significant impact in their field by supporting and mentoring undergraduate students in research and scholarship endeavors and who have demonstrated at least five years of mentorship involvement.
Recipient:
Shuhab Khan, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics