2020 Trustees’ Celebration of Faculty Achievement
FACULTY PROMOTIONS
Promoted to Full Professor
Chrysanthe Demetry, Mechanical Engineering
David DiBiasio, Chemical Engineering
Tanja Dominko, Biology and Biotechnology
Joseph Fehribach, Mathematical Sciences
Dmitry Korkin, Computer Science
Robert Krueger, Social Science and Policy Studies
Anita Mattson, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Angel Rivera, Humanities and Arts
Carolina Ruiz, Computer Science
Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure
Xiangnan Kong, Computer Science
Kyumin Lee, Computer Science
Gillian Smith, Computer Science
Purvi Shah, The Business School
Zhongqiang Zhang, Mathematical Sciences
Promoted to Teaching Professor
Destin Heilman, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Christopher Lambert, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dean O'Donnell, Interactive Media & Game Development
Fatemeh Emdad, Data Science
Promoted to Associate Professor
(Non-Tenure Track)
Stephen McCauley, The Global School
Pradeep Radhakrishnan, Mechanical Engineering
Elisabeth Stoddard, The Global School
Huili Zheng, Humanities and Arts
Promoted to Senior Instructor/Lecturer
(Non-Tenure Track)
Ralph Sutter, Interactive Media & Game Development
Promoted to Department Head
(Non-Tenure Track)
Nikolaos Gatsonis, Aerospace Engineering
Robert Krueger, Social Science and Policy Studies
Sarah Olson, Mathematical Sciences
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AWARDS
Board of Trustees' Award for Outstanding Teaching
Sarah Wodin-Schwartz, Mechanical Engineering
Chairman’s Exemplary Faculty Prize
Kristin Boudreau, Humanities andArts
John Sullivan, Mechanical Engineering
Board of Trustees' Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Scholarship
Jagan Srinivasan, Biology and Biotechnology
Board of Trustees' Award for Academic Advising
Gillian Smith, Computer Science
Romeo L. Moruzzi Young Faculty Award
Carlo Pinciroli, Robotics Engineering
Elisabeth Stoddard, Social Science and Policy Studies
National Recognition
Renata Konrad, Associate Professor of Operations and Industrial Engineering received a Fulbright Award for research in Ukraine.
Yanhua Li, Computer Science, NSF CAREER Award for Spatial-Temporal Imitation Learning
Burt Tilley, Mathematical Sciences, appointed National Research Council Research Associate, Air Force Research Laboratory-Kirtland AFB (related to sabbatical work)
Andrew Teixeira, Chemical Engineering, NSF CAREER Award for Nitrogen Activation: Splitting Kinetic Cycles and Breaking Energetic Barriers with Pulsed Catalysis and NSF EFRI Award for Precise but Tunable Reactions through Tunably Precise Surfaces
Andrew Teixeira, Chemical Engineering, NSF EFRI Award for Precise but Tunable Reactions through Tunably Precise Surfaces
Mike Timko, Aaron Deskins, Elke Rundensteiner, Lyubov Titova, and Randy Paffenroth, Chemical Engineering, NSF NRT Award for Data-Driven Sustainable Engineering for a Circular Economy
Kun-Ta Wu, Physics, NSF CAREER: Mixing and Vorticity Dynamics in Active Fluid Systems (Continuing grant)
Eric Young, Biomedical Engineering, NSF CAREER Award, MLSC CERES Award for A Red Yeast Cell Factory
Eric Young and Marsha Rolle, Biomedical Engineering, MLSC Open Capital Program title: Cell Engineering Research Equipment Suite (CERES)
Professional Society Fellows and Awards
Bruce Bursten, Chemistry & Biochemistry, 2020 American Chemical Society (ACS) Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry
Katherine Foo and Sarah Stanlick, The School of Business, Spring 2021 Fellows of Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS)
William Martin, Mathematical Sciences, Fellow, Institute for Combinatorics and its Applications
Suzanne Scarlata, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Selected Distinctions
Kristen Billiar, Biomedical Engineering, Chair-elect for the SB3C (Summer Biomechanics, Biofluids, and Bioengineering Conference) Foundation (2020-2021)
Kristen Billiar, Biomedical Engineering, Chair of the ASME Bioengineering Division 2019-2020
Kristen Billiar , Biomedical Engineering, Named inaugural Associate Editor, Biomedical Engineering Education Journal
Marcel Blais, Mathematical Sciences, Elected to National Professional Science Master’s Association (NPSMA) Board
Kelly Colvin, Humanities & Arts, WPI Women's Young Investigator Fellowship (2020-2021)
Vladimir Druskin, Mathematical Sciences, Elected Vice Chair of Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) for the Activity Group on Geosciences
Jeanine Dudle, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Elected to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the American Water Works Association in June 2020.
Wen-hua Du and Jennifer Rudolph, Humanities and Arts, WPI’s China Hub will be a local host for the National Committee of US China Relations (NCUSCR) annual CHINA Town Hall. This is a combination national event with a nationally telecast interview (this year with Ray Dalio conducted by NCUSCR president Stephen Orlins), followed by a local event, which will also be virtual this year. This will be the 3rd time WPI has been selected as a local host for the event.
Roger Gottlieb, Humanities and Arts, Semi-finalist, The Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental Literature
Ulkuhan Guler, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Won first place in the Interstellar Initiative, sponsored by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development and the New York Academy of Sciences.
Edward Gutierrez, Humanities and Arts, Official selection, Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival for short film ESCAPE
Sharon Johnson, The Business School, Received the Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM) Industrial Engineering Excellence in Teaching and Learning award, which was presented at the 5th North American International Conference on IEOM in August 2020
Renata Konrad, The Business School, Selected to be a member of the United Nations University Working Group to identify which multilateral and national policies are proven to combat modern slavery, forced labor, human trafficking, and child labor
Robert Kreuger, Social Science and Policy Studies, Named Ambassador to West Africa by the Regional Studies Association
Kyumin Lee, Computer Science, 2020 Conference on Information and Knowledge Management Test of Time Award
Diana Lados, Mechanical Engineering, Elected to the board of directors of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Diana Lados, Mechanical Engineering, Recieved the Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Program 2021 from the University of Melbourne, Australia
Diana Lados, Mechanical Engineering, Received the Higgins II, Milton Prince Distinguished Professorship in Manufacturing
William Martin, Mathematical Sciences, Editorial Board Member, Journal of Combinatorial Designs
William Martin, Mathematical Sciences, Editorial Board Member, Bulletin of the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications
Anita Mattson, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Received 2020 Northern Michigan University Alumni Achievement Award
Kate McIntyre, Humanities and Arts, Received 2020 Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction
Sarah Olson, Mathematical Sciences, Appointed Topics Editor for the journal Fluids
George Pins, Biomedical Engineering, Re-elected to Leadership Advisory Council, Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI Biofab USA)
Joshua Rohde, Humanities and Arts, Appointed new Music Director for the Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra
Jennifer Rudolph, Humanities and Arts, Keynote address, NECLTA Annual International Conference
Elke Rundensteiner, Data Science, 2020 Conference on Information and Knowledge Management Best Short Paper
James Ryan, The Business School, Named President of the Association for Information Systems Special Interest Group SIGHealth Information Technology in Healthcare at the Americas Conference on Information Systems 2020
William San Martín , Humanities & Arts, Residency Fellowship, Rachel Carson Center for Environment & Society, Munich, Germany
Joseph Sarkis, The Business School, Earned his fifth consecutive recognition as a highly cited researcher by the Web of Science (the major journal indexing service and includes only the highest quality journals)
Albert Simeoni, Fire Protection Engineering, Elected to the board of directors of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Albert Simeoni, Fire Protection Engineering, Recipient of the Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Program 2021 from the University of Melbourne, Australia
Stephan Sturm, Mathematical Sciences, Elected to Steering Committee of BIG Math Network, Steering Committee
Karen Troy, Biomedical Engineering, Created the scientific program for the 2020 Annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, organizing abstract submission and review, a pivot to a fully virtual program (due to the coronavirus pandemic), and the creation of an entirely new virtual conference experience.
Yan Wang, Mechanical Engineering, Served on the Massachusetts Battery Energy Storage Ecosystem Innovation Ecosystem Steering Committee.
Alexander Wyglinski, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Elected a member of the Board of Governors, IEEE Vehicular Technology Society and Technical Editor, IEEE Communications Magazine.
Vadim Yakovlev, Mathematical Sciences, Co-Chair, special Workshop “High-Power Microwave Industrial Applications, “European Microwave Week 2020
Keith Zizza, Computer Science, with Adryen J. Gonzalez & Edward Gutierrez, Humanities and Arts, Official selection, Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival for short film ESCAPE
Editorials and Publications
Joseph Fehribach, Mathematical Sciences, Publication of textbook Multivariable and Vector Calculus with De Gruyter
Mayer Humi, Mathematical Sciences, Editor’s pick, September issue of Journal of Mathematical Physics, for the article “On the evolution of a primordial interstellar gas cloud”, volume 61, page 093504
Michael Johnson, Fiona C. Levey, Mathematical Sciences, First in ASEE-NE Faculty paper category, Fundamental Mathematical Skill Development in Engineering Education
Umberto Mosco, Mathematical Sciences, Special journal issue dedication, “Special Issue of the Journal Rend. Mat. Appl. (7) Volume 41 (2020), 189-192, celebrating the Umberto Mosco’s birthday.” Issue contains original research papers dedicated to Umberto by highly distinguished mathematicians in the field of partial differential equations and their applications.
Sarah Olson, Mathematical Sciences, 2019 Mathematical Medicine & Biology Best Paper Prize (awarded in 2020)
Patent Inventors and Patents
Sakthi Ambady, Biomedical Engineering, Sakthi Ambady’s MQP team filed a provisional patent in 2020 entitled “BRACE FOR PATELLOFEMORAL ARTHRITIS” where Ahmet Sabuncu and Kris Billiar are coinventors. DonJoy is currently evaluating the design to include in their product line.
Marsha Rolle, Biomedical Engineering, New issued patent: Peterson, A.; Rolle, M.; Ding, I. Coated Cell Culture Apparatus. Issued August 4, 2020, as U.S. Patent No. 10,731,145. B132
Kristen Billiar, Biomedical Engineering, “Surgical retraction device” Jacquelyne DiTroia, Caroline Mazzola, Andres Monterroso, Patricia Swierk, Arriyan Samandar Dowlatshahi, Kristen Billiar, Raymond M. Dunn, US Patent 10624622, April 21, 2020.
Michael Timko, Chemical Engineering, US20180119089A1 Patent for Microbial system for biosynthesis of natural and engineered products coupled to in situ extraction in supercritical co2
Grant Recipients
Pamela Weathers, Biology & Biotechnology
Scarlet Shell, Biology & Biotechnology
Jeannine Coburn, Biomedical Engineering
Catherine Whittington, Biomedical Engineering
Glenn Gaudette, Biomedical Engineering
Kristen Billiar, Biomedical Engineering
Marsha Rolle, Biomedical Engineering
Karen Troy, Biomedical Engineering
Terri Camesano, Chemical Engineering
Andrew Teixeira, Chemical Engineering
Jennifer Wilcox, Chemical Engineering
Walter Zurawsky, Chemical Engineering
Michael Timko, Chemical Engineering
Nikolaos Kazantzis, Chemical Engineering
Arne Gericke, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Shawn Burdette, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Patricia Musacchio, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Shichao Liu, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Harold Walker, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Mingjiang Tao, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Emmanuel Agu, Computer Science
Joseph Beck, Computer Science
Loris Fichera, Computer Science
Elke Rundensteiner, Computer Science
Yanhua Li, Computer Science
Craig Shue, Computer Science
Jacob Whitehill, Computer Science
Dmitry Korkin, Computer Science
Alexander Wyglinski, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Patrick Schaumont, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Ziming Zhang, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Xinming Huang, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Andrew Clark, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Maqsood A Mughal, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Fatemeh Ganji, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Berk Sunar, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Shamsnaz Bhada, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Shahin Tajik, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Albert Simeoni, Fire Protection Engineering
John S Galante, Humanities & Arts
Joseph Doiron, IGSD
Todd Keiller, Intellectual Property & Innovation
Katherine Chen, K-12 Outreach
Luca Capogna, Mathematical Sciences
Vadim Yakovlev, Mathematical Sciences
Zhongqiang Zhang, Mathematical Sciences
Vladimir Druskin, Mathematical Sciences
Balgobin Nandram, Mathematical Sciences
Min Wu, Mathematical Sciences
Randy Paffenroth, Mathematical Sciences
Fangfang Wang, Mathematical Sciences
Sarah Olson, Mathematical Sciences
Sam Walcott, Mathematical Sciences
Pratap Rao, Mechanical Engineering
Adam Powell Mechanical Engineering
Gregory Fischer, Mechanical Engineering
Yihao Zheng, Mechanical Engineering
Cosme Furlong, Mechanical Engineering
Nikolaos Gatsonis, Mechanical Engineering
Jamal Yagoobi, Mechanical Engineering
Yan Wang, Mechanical Engineering
Lyubov Titova, Physics
Seyed Zekavat, Physics
Kun-Ta Wu, Physics
Ramdas Ram-Mohan, Physics
Jing Xiao, Robotics Engineering
Michael Gennert, Robotics Engineering
Gregory Fischer, Robotics Engineering
Zhi Li, Robotics Engineering
Bengisu Tulu, The Business School
Eleanor Loiacono, The Business School
Sara Saberi, The Business School
Jeanine Skorinko, Social Science & Policy Studies
Robert Krueger, Social Science & Policy Studies
Laureen Elgert, Social Science & Policy Studies