ECE faculty among 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award winners

The College of Engineering recently honored excellence in teaching, innovation, and service with its 24th annual Distinguished Faculty Awards.

Among the faculty, researchers and partners recognized for distinguished contributions in several areas were multiple Ohio State Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty members hired through the Materials and Manufacturing for Sustainability (M&MS) Discovery Theme, operated by the Institute for Materials Research (IMR).

The Lumley Engineering Research Award was presented to two M&MS faculty members: Jung-Hyun Kim, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Hongping Zhao, an ECE associate professor. They were among nine outstanding researchers in the College of Engineering who have shown exceptional activity and success in pursuing new knowledge of a fundamental or applied nature.

ECE Assistant Professor Asimina Kiourti earned the Buckeye Engineering Women in Executive Leadership (BEWEL) award for her contributions to bio-electromagnetics and her outreach efforts toward encouraging women to pursue careers in engineering. The award was created in 2019 and is presented to a junior or mid-career female faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in research, innovation, and/or scholarship.

The David C. McCarthy Engineering Teaching Award was also presented to Tyler Grassman, an assistant professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and ECE.

The Distinction in Safety Award goes to Gregg Chapman, ECE assistant professor-clinical, for his dedicated efforts to ensure the successful continuation of the department's laboratory program, which serves over 1,000 students per semester. Established in 2020, this award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment and contribution to safety.

The Lumley Interdisciplinary Research Award was given to Christopher Ball, ECE research scientist, ElectroScience Laboratory; and Vimal Buck, senior researcher, Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence and ECE alumni.

ECE Lumley Research Award faculty winners include:

• Keith Redmill, research associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Julia Zhang, assistant professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Hongping Zhao, associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Lumley Engineering Research Awards are presented to a select group of outstanding researchers in the College of Engineering who have shown exceptional activity and success in pursuing new knowledge of a fundamental or applied nature.

Other IMR-affiliated faculty winners include:

Vicky Doan-Nguyen, assistant professor in the departments of Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering who joined Ohio State through the M&MS Discovery Theme, was awarded the David C. McCarthy Engineering Teaching Award. This award recognizes the contributions of College of Engineering junior faculty and staff to create more innovative and effective teaching and learning.

Pelagia-Irene (Perena) Gouma, Edward Orton Jr. Chair in Ceramic Engineering and professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, received the college’s Innovators Award. Gouma, who was also hired through the M&MS Discovery Therme program, was recognized for her revolutionary materials processing and use as selective sensing elements for the detection of biomarkers of COVID-19 disease in breath.

Carolin Fink, assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was recognized for being exemplary in developing her students as engineers and professionals. Called “one of the most influential educators I have had” by one of her students, Fink prioritizes helping and bonding with students.

Harrison Faculty Award for Excellence in Engineering Education

• Carlos Castro, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Faculty Mentoring Award

• Umit Ozkan, chair and professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Giorgio Rizzoni, Ford Motor Company Chair and professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Honda – Ohio State Partnership Award: David B. Williams, dean emeritus and special advisor to executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge enterprise

Lumley Interdisciplinary Research Award

• Andre Palmer, professor, William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Lumley Research Award

• Marat Khafizov, associate professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Story via Institute for Materials Research. Visit the College of Engineering website for the full list of recipients.