The University of Tennessee, seeking to move into the top ranks of America’s public research universities, honored nine of its top researchers Wednesday, April 11.
Presented UT Research and Creative Achievement Awards at the Provost’s Honor’s Banquet were:
Dr. Sergey Gavrilets, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, whose research specialty is mathematical population genetics.
Dr. Carl Sams, professor of plant and soil sciences, whose field of study is disease resistance of fruits and vegetables.
Dr. Jan Simek, professor of anthropology, who is internationally known for his work on the origins and evolution of human cultural behavior. He also does research on prehistoric cave art in East Tennessee.
Dr. Lawrence Townsend, associate professor of nuclear engineering, who does research in the field of space radiation.
Dr. Dolly Young, an associate professor of modern foreign languages and literatures, whose research interests are foreign language anxiety, second language acquisition and applied linguistics.
Four young faculty who have demonstrated exemplary scholarship were presented for professional promise in research and creative achievement.
Dr. Robert Hinde, associate professor of chemistry, was honored for contributions to theoretical chemistry.
Dr. Michael Jackson, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, was honored for his research on highway pavement materials.
Dr. Vejas Liulevicius, assistant professor of history, was recognized for his study of World War I, Germany and Eastern Europe.
Dr. Cynthia Rocha, associate professor of social work, was honored for her research on problems faced by low-income workers and a study of garment workers who lost jobs due to plant closings.