2021 Research & Scholarship Awards
The annual Research & Scholarship Awards at East Carolina University recognize the institution’s best and brightest researchers and inventors. Our faculty’s research impacts not only the ECU community but communities across the globe. This year’s winners represent a variety of ECU programs that highlight our initiative to transform our region through research and innovation.
Event Details
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
5 p.m.
View Event on YouTube
Event Program
Welcome
Grant Hayes, Interm Provost
Remarks
Michael Van Scott, Interim Vice Chancellor for REDE
Recognition and Presentation of Awards
Five-Year Research & Creative Activity Awards
Inventors
2020-21 EOSA Cohort
Outstanding Research Scholars and Artists
Closing Remarks
Ron Mitchelson, Interim Chancellor
Five-Year Research & Creative Activity Awards
Art and Design, College of Fine Arts and Communication
With a focus on visual culture of the ancient and contemporary Maya and Inca, Christie’s overriding mission and purpose have been to contribute critical insights to the worlds of how societies function and how to link the past and present to a future that includes sustainable cultural landscapes from indigenous perspectives. Her interests have focused on 3D visual culture and associated spaces in Mesoamerica, the Andes and Native North America. Her work has led to multiple book volumes, including her latest in press publication “Earth Politics of Cultural Landscapes and Intangible Heritage: Three Case Studies in the Americas.” Read more.
Biology, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Over her first seven years at ECU, Peralta’s research has stood out amongst her peers, earning her the prestigious National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award. Peralta’s work examines the consequences of microbial interactions with other organisms in their surrounding environment and contributes to both basic and applied research in the field. Her research spans multiple disciplines, leading to interdisciplinary collaborations with ecologists, sociologists, economists and engineers, among others. During the last five years, Peralta has secured more than $4 million in grant funding, including more than $2 million as a primary investigator during that time frame. Read more.
U.S. Patent No. 10,722,173
Cheng Chen
Adjunct Associate Professor
Physics, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
T. Bruce Ferguson, Jr.
Adjunct Research Professor
East Carolina University Scholar 2017
Physics, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Kenneth Jacobs
Research Specialist
Physics, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
U.S. Patent No. 10,792,492
Cheng Chen
Adjunct Associate Professor
Physics, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
T. Bruce Ferguson, Jr.
Adjunct Research Professor
East Carolina University Scholar 2017
Physics, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Kenneth Jacobs
Research Specialist
Physics, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Sunghan Kim*
Associate Professor
Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology
U.S. Patent No. 10,751,327
Stefan Clemens*
Associate Professor
Physiology, Brody School of Medicine
U.S. Patent Nos. 10,878,711 & 10,878,359
Robert Todd Watkins, Jr.*
Assistant Dean and Professor
Apple Distinguished Educators Class of 2013
Dental Education and Informatics, School of Dental Medicine
U.S. Patent No. 10,368,785
Jianchu (Jason) Yao*
Professor
Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology
Gregg Givens
Professor Emeritus
Communication Sciences and Disorders
College of Allied Health Sciences
U.S. Patent No. 10,874,686
James P. Coleman*
Associate Professor
Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine
Everett C. Pesci
Professor and Chair
Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine
National Academy of Inventors Senior Member Class of 2021
Sharon Rogers-Moore
Associate Professor
Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance
* As first time ECU inventors, these individuals will also be inducted into the ECU Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors.
2021 EOSA Cohort
Gabe Duggan, Assistant Professor
Art and Design, College of Fine Arts and Communication
Carol Goodwillie, Associate Professor
Biology, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Heather L. Panczykowski, Assistant Professor
Occupational Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences
Vanessa Pardi, Assistant Professor
Foundational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine
Yoo Min Park, Assistant Professor
Geography, Planning and Environment, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Christy Rhodes, Associate Professor
Adult Education, College of Education
Lauren Sastre, Assistant Professor
Nutrition Science, College of Allied Health Sciences
Outstanding Research Scholars and Artists
Brody School of Medicine
Paul Bolin, Internal Medicine
Brandon Garcia, Microbiology and Immunology
Srinivas Sriramula, Pharmacology and Toxicology
College of Allied Health Sciences
Molly Jacobs, Health Services and Information Management
Swati Surkar, Physical Therapy
Leigh Atherton, Addiction and Rehabilitation Studies
College of Business
Dennis Barber, Miller School of Entrepreneurship
Cynthia Deale (O’Halloran), School of Hospitality Leadership
Denise Dickins, Accounting
College of Education
Matthew Militello, Educational Leadership
Steven W. Schmidt, Interdisciplinary Professions
Loni Crumb, Interdisciplinary Professions
College of Engineering and Technology
Kura Duba, Engineering
JT Filho, Engineering
Zhen Zhu, Engineering
College of Fine Arts and Communication
Carroll Dashiell, School of Music
Mary Tucker-McLaughlin, School of Communication
Daniel Kariko, School of Art and Design
Jen-Scott Mobley, School of Theatre and Dance
College of Health and Human Performance
Joseph Houmard, Kinesiology
Archana Hegde, Human Development and Family Science
Joseph Lee, Health Education and Promotion
College of Nursing
Holly Wei, Advanced Nursing Practice & Education
Susan Kennerly, Nursing Science
Pamela Reis, Nursing Science
Integrated Coastal Programs
Michael O’Driscoll, Coastal Studies
School of Dental Medicine
Mark Moss, Foundational Sciences
Michael Webb, Pediatric Dentistry and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Wanda Wright, Foundational Sciences
Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
Yumin Li, Chemistry
Hannah Cooper, Geography, Planning and the Environment
Tom Herron, English