Research & Teaching Awards

Awards and Accolades

The College of Science’s world-class faculty members are dedicated to providing their students with the best possible education and to equipping them with the tools they need to become leaders of the next generation of scientists. They are also engaged in cutting-edge research which is devoted to finding solutions to many of the critical problems facing our world today. Our faculty members have received numerous honors for their teaching, research and service from University, state, national and international organizations. This list provides a sampling of the honors they have received.

External Awards

U.S. National Academy of Sciences
David Nygren (inducted in 2000)

Early Career Development Award
Alison Ravenscraft, biology (National Science Foundation, 2022)
Sen Xu, biology (National Science Foundation, 2021)
Jonathan Asaadi, physics (U.S. Department of Energy, 2020)
He Dong, chemistry and biochemistry (National Science Foundation, 2018)
Benjamin Jones, physics (U.S. Department of Energy, 2018)
Matthew Walsh, biology (National Science Foundation, 2017)
Majie Fan, Earth and environmental sciences (National Science Foundation, 2015)
Ashley Griffith, Earth and environmental sciences (National Science Foundation, 2014)
Yue Deng, physics (National Science Foundation, 2010)
Amir Farbin, chemistry and biochemistry (National Science Foundation, 2010)
Kevin Schug, chemistry and biochemistry (National Science Foundation, 2009)

UT System Level Awards

UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers
Ramon Lopez (2019)
Kevin Schug (2016)
Barbara Shipman (2016)

UT System Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award
Frank Foss, chemistry and biochemistry (2018)
Ramon Lopez, physics (2017)
Laura Mydlarz, biology (2017)
Ashley Griffith, earth and environmental sciences (2016)
Christopher Kribs, mathematics (2016)
Kevin Schug, chemistry and biochemistry (2014)
Seiichiro Tanizaki, chemistry and biochemistry (2013)
Nilakshi Veerabathina, physics (2012)
Monica Ramirez Basco, psychology (2011)
Lee Ann Frederick, biology (2011)
James Alvarez, mathematics (2010)
Lauri Jensen-Campbell, psychology (2010)
Theresa Jorgensen, mathematics (2010)
Barbara Shipman, mathematics (2010)
Minerva Cordero, mathematics (2009)
Jimmy Rogers, chemistry and biochemistry (2009)

University Level Awards

UTA Distinguished Record of Research Award
Ramon Lopez, physics (2021)
Wei Chen, physics (2020)
Yue Deng, physics (2019)
Christopher Kribs, mathematics (2016)
Fred MacDonnell, chemistry and biochemistry (2014)
Daniel Armstrong, chemistry and biochemistry (2012)
Purnendu “Sandy” Dasgupta, chemistry and biochemistry (2010)
Andrew White, physics (2009)
Chaoqun Liu, mathematics (2008)
Paul Paulus, psychology (2007)
Robert Gatchel, psychology (2006)
Alex Weiss, physics (2003)
William Ickes, psychology (2002)
Richard Timmons, chemistry and biochemistry (2001)
Jonathan Campbell, biology (1998)
Martin Pomerantz, chemistry and biochemistry (1997)
Rangachary Kannan, mathematics (1995)
Constantin Corduneanu, mathematics (1991)
Krishnan Rajeshwar, chemistry and biochemistry (1991)
Robert McMahon, biology (1990)
Edmund Brodie, Jr., biology (1988)
Dennis Marynick, chemistry and biochemistry (1988)
Brooks Ellwood, geology (1987)
Howard Arnott, biology (1984)
Donald Greenspan, mathematics (1983)
Zoltan Schelly, chemistry and biochemistry (1982)
V. Lakshmikantham, mathematics (1981)
William F. Pyburn, biology (1979)

UTA Academy of Distinguished Scholars
Wei Chen, physics (2023)
Qinhong "Max" Hu, Earth and environmental sciences (2022)
Andrew Brandt, physics; Fred MacDonnell, chemistry and biochemistry (2021)
Yue Deng, physics (2020)
Jaehoon Yu, physics (2019)
James Grover, biology (2018)
David Nygren, physics (2018)
Christopher Kribs, mathematics (2017)
Chaoqun Liu, mathematics (2015)
Daniel Armstrong, chemistry and biochemistry (2014)
Ping Liu, physics (2014)
Purnendu "Sandy" Dasgupta, chemistry and biochemistry (2013)
Rasika Dias, chemistry and biochemistry (2012)
Paul Paulus, psychology (2010)
Robert Gatchel, psychology (2008)
Richard Timmons, chemistry and biochemistry (2007)
Christopher Scotese, Earth and environmental sciences (2006)
Alex Weiss, physics (2006)
William Ickes, psychology (2005)
Jonathan Campbell, biology (2004)
Krishnan Rajeshwar, chemistry and biochemistry (2004)

UTA Academy of Distinguished Teachers
Shan Sun-Mitchell, mathematics (2022)
Manfred Cuntz, physics (2020)
Frank Foss, chemistry & biochemistry (2019)
Ramon Lopez, physics (2018)
Laura Mydlarz, biology (2018)
Kevin Schug, chemistry & biochemistry (2018)
Christopher Kribs, mathematics (2017)
Theresa Jorgensen, mathematics (2016)
Thomas Chrzanowski, biology (2015)
James Alvarez, mathematics (2012)
Martha Mann, psychology (2011)
Carl Lovely, chemistry & biochemistry (2010)
Lauri Jensen-Campbell, psychology (2009)
Barbara Shipman, mathematics (2006)
Minerva Cordero, mathematics (2005)
James Robinson, biology (2005)
Bernard Frye, biology (2003)
Merlynd Nestell, Earth & environmental sciences (2003)
Jonathan Campbell, biology (2000)
Robert Neill, biology (1998)
Roy Rubins, physics (1998)
Robert Francis, chemistry (1996)

UTA President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Woo-Suk Chang, biology (2022) - tenured
Matthew Walsh, biology (2021) - tenured
Amber Schroeder, psychology (2021) - untenured
Matthew Fujita, biology (2019)
Alejandro Bugarin, chemistry & biochemistry (2018)
Christopher Kribs, mathematics (2017)
Laura Mydlarz, biology (2016)
Frank Foss, chemistry & biochemistry (2014)

UTA Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Nicholas Pollock, biology (2023)
Melissa Walsh, biology (2022)
Alice Lubbe, mathematics (2021)
Shanna Banda, mathematics (2019)
Nilakshi Veerabathina, physics (2018)
Walter Schargel, biology (2014)
Lee Ann Frederick, biology (2010)
Timothy Henry, biology (2000)
Jimmy Rogers, chemistry & biochemistry (1999)

UTA Outstanding Research Achievement or Creative Accomplishment
Sen Xu, biology (2022)
Qinhong "Max" Hu, Earth and environmental sciences (2021)
Todd Castoe, biology (2020)
Yue Deng, physics (2017)
Jaehoon Yu, physics (2015)
Kaushik De, physics (2009)
J. Ping Liu, physics (2008)
Rasika Dias, chemistry and biochemistry (2007)
Juergen Schieber, geology (2001)
Patrick Phillips, biology (2000)
James Grover, biology (1998)
Christopher Scotese, geology (1993)
Roy West, physics (1992)
Jonathan Campbell, biology (1990)
Paul Paulus, psychology (1989)
John Reynolds, chemistry (1987)
John McNutt, physics (1979)

UTA Award for Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring
Laura Mydlarz, biology (2023) 

College Level Awards

College of Science Excellence in Teaching Award
Jeffery Demuth, biology (tenured); Hunter Ball, psychology (TT); Megan Korchinski, Earth and environmental sciences (NTT) (2022-23)
Arne Winguth, Earth and environmental sciences (tenured); Amir Shahmoradi, physics, and Suvra Pal, mathematics (TT); Nicholas Pollock, biology, and Jeremy Glass, mathematics (NTT) (2021-22)
Clay Clark, biology (tenured); Hyeong-Moo Shin, Earth and environmental sciences (TT); William Cleaver, chemistry, and Melissa Walsh, biology (NTT) (2020-21)
Matthew Walsh, biology (TT); Jill Devito, biology (NTT)  (2019-20)
Ramon Lopez, physics (TT); Shannon Layman, psychology (NTT)  (2018-19)
Shan Sun-Mitchell, mathematics (TT); Shanna Banda, mathematics (NTT) (2017-18)
Junha Jeon, chemistry (TT); Corey Roelke, biology (NTT) (2016-17)
Dimitar Grantcharov, mathematics (TT); Cornelia Winguth, Earth & environmental sciences (NTT) (2015-16)
Hristo Kojouharov, mathematics (TT); Barry Spurlock, physics (NTT) (2014-15)
Kevin Schug, chemistry (2013-14)
Gaik Ambartsoumian, mathematics (2012-13)
Angela Liegey Dougall, psychology; Fred MacDonnell, chemistry (2011-12)
David Bernard, biology (2010-11)
Monica Basco, psychology (2009-10)
John Holbrook, geology (2008-09)
Daniel Formanowicz, biology (2007-08)
Manfred Cuntz, physics; Carl Lovely, chemistry (2006-07)
James Kopp, psychology (2006-06)
William Balsam, geology (2004-05)
Gregory Pool, psychology (2003-04)
Barbara Shipman, mathematics (2002-03)
Gary Kinsel, chemistry; Donald Reaser, geology (2001-02)
Rasika Dias, chemistry (2000-01)
Bernard Frye, biology (1999-2000)
Martha Mann, psychology (1998-99)
Roy S. Rubins, physics (1997-98)
John A. Wolff, geology (1996-97)
Verne Cox, psychology (1995-96)
Merlynd Nestell, geology/mathematics (1994-95)
Robert F. Francis, chemistry (1993-94)
Glen E. Terrell, physics (1992-93)
Merlynd Nestell, geology/mathematics (1989-90)
John A. Wolff, geology (1988-89)
William B. Self, physics (1986-87)
Eddie Warren, mathematics  (1985-86)
William Meacham, biology (1984-85)
J. Ronald Sides, geology (1981-82)
Paul Coleman, physics; Verne Cox, psychology (1980-81)
Dennis Marynick, chemistry (1979-80)
Archibald Hopkins, biology (1978-79)
David A. Kotila, geology (1977-78)
Robert Neill, biology (1976-77)
Andrew Armstrong, chemistry (1975-76)
James H. Cooke, physics (1974-75)
Thomas Kennerly, biology (1973-74)
Glen E. Terrell, physics (1972-73)
Robert F. Francis, chemistry (1971-72)                                                                                                                                               

*TT – tenure track
*NTT – non-tenure track

College of Science Award for Distinguished Record of Research
Merlynd Nestell, Earth and environmental sciences, mathematics (2021-22)
Carl Lovely, chemistry and biochemistry (2020-21)

College of Science Research Excellence Award
Luke Frishkoff, biology (2022-23)
Sherri McFarland, chemistry and biochemistry (2021-22)
Sen Xu, biology (2020-21)
Sophia Passy, biology (2019-20)
Clay Clark, biology; Benjamin Jones, physics (2018-19)
Matthew Walsh, biology (2017-18)
Todd Castoe, biology (2016-17)
Yue Deng, physics (2015-16)
Laura Gough, biology (2014-15)
Christopher Kribs, mathematics; Peter Kroll, chemistry (2013-14)
Subhrangsu Mandal, chemistry (2012-13)
Jaehoon Yu, physics (2011-12)
Jianzhong Su, mathematics (2010-11)
Kevin Schug, chemistry (2009-10)
Cedric Feschotte, biology (2008-09)
Tuncay Aktosun, mathematics (2007-08)
Andrew Brandt, physics; Perry Fuchs, psychology (2006-07)
Rasika Dias, chemistry (2005-06)
Esther Betrán, biology (2004-05)
J. Ping Liu, physics (2003-04)
Fred MacDonnell, chemistry (2002-03)
Manfred Cuntz, physics; Zdzislaw Musielak, physics (2001-02)