Accolades

Melissa Catanese wins creative development award from Heinz Endowments

Melissa Catanese, teaching associate professor in the Department of Studio Arts, received a 2023 Investing in Creative Development Awards from The Heinz Endowments.

Catanese uses photographs to build narratives in the form of artist’s books and wall installations. The $20,000 award will fund her project inspired by the classic Shirley Jackson short story, “The Lottery.”

The 15 Pittsburgh artists and organizations who received grants, totaling $296,450, were selected from nearly 90 applicants by a group of 11 regional and national artists and educators. The awardees represent a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including filmmaking, music, theater and 3D-printed sculpture.

Rosemary Capo joins AGU LANDInG Academy’s newest cohort

Rosemary Capo, associate professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences, has joined the second-ever cohort of the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Leadership Academy and Network for Diversity and Inclusion in the Geosciences (LANDInG) Academy.

AGU LANDInG Academy is a two-year, cohort-based professional development program for current and aspiring diversity, equity and inclusion leaders in the Earth and space sciences. Fellows from the 2021-2023 cohort reported benefits like a deeper understanding of DEI science, networking with DEI scholars and building a community of support for their own leadership.

An assistant dean for graduate studies and academic integrity officer for the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Capo has over 25 years of experience in the analysis of natural and produced waters and mineral, soil, and environmental samples, including four years as a postdoctoral researcher and research scientist at the California Institute of Technology and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Cristina Murray-Krezan to chair PCORI Clinical Trials Advisory Panel

Cristina Murray-Krezan, associate professor of medicine and clinical and translational science, was selected by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) board of governors as chair of the organization’s Clinical Trials Advisory Panel.

The panel advises those conducting research through the PCORI Methodology Committee on the selection, research design, implementation, and technical issues of clinical trials for patient-centered outcomes. Murray-Krezan has served on the committee for three years and served as co-chair in 2022-23.

Murray-Krezan joined Pitt in 2021 as co-director of the Center for Clinical Trials and Data Coordination and associate director for clinical trials in the Center for Research on Health Care Data Center.

In addition to her new role as chair, Murray-Krezan serves on two committees for the Society for Clinical Trials and is a longtime member of both the American Statistical Association and the International Biometric Society. In 2016, she co-founded the University of New Mexico Statistics and Data Coordinating Center and served as its director until 2021. 

Leonora Anyango earns Harvard University’s Derek Bok Public Service Award

Leonora Anyango, a faculty fellow in the David C. Frederick Honors College, received the Derek Bok Public Service Award from Harvard University, where she graduated with a Master of Liberal Arts in May.

The coveted award for undergraduate and master’s graduates at Harvard recognizes creative initiatives in community service or long-standing records of civic achievement. Anyango was honored for mentoring college students, working with refugees and other international students in Pittsburgh, and financing education for blind youth in Kenya.

An expert in language, culture and education, Anyango (EDUC ’06G) earned PhDs in education and English composition from Pitt and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, respectively. Along with her Frederick Honors College position, she teaches composition and professional courses in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

Patricia Corby joins Health Sciences in new associate vice chancellor for clinical trials role

Patricia Corby joined Pitt Health Sciences in the newly created role of associate vice chancellor for clinical trials development and operations. Corby also holds a primary appointment as professor of radiation oncology in the School of Medicine and a secondary appointment as professor of periodontics and preventive dentistry in the School of Dental Medicine, where she also serves as a senior advisor for clinical and translational research.

In collaboration with leadership across the University and regionally, Corby will cultivate dynamic and synergistic relationships between and among clinicians, faculty, researchers, industry partners and others to establish and maximize discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship across Pitt’s six schools of the health sciences.

Corby (MED ’05G) returns to Pitt — she served as she served as assistant professor in the Department of Dental Public Health at Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine from 1998-2001 — from Penn Dental Medicine, where her roles included associate professor of oral medicine and associate dean of translational research. There she also directed the Center for Clinical and Translational Research, where she spearheaded a significant expansion of its clinical and translational extramural support.

Prior to joining Penn, Corby served several years at New York University (NYU) as associate professor of periodontics and implants at the College of Dentistry and associate professor of radiation oncology and population health at the School of Medicine. She also led the Center for Large Scale Clinical Studies for NYU Langone Health and worked to support investigators conducting clinical trials within and outside the university.

Corby earned her MS in biomedical informatics from Pitt Med and completed her postdoctoral training in molecular biology and microbial genetics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Her research focuses on the value of integrating medical and dental services in different health care and public health settings to prevent systemic complications in populations with unmet oral health needs and associated chronic diseases.

Edouard Machery awarded $260,000 from the John Templeton Foundation

Edouard Machery, director of Pitt’s Center for Philosophy of Science, was awarded a grant for $260,000 from the John Templeton Foundation.

Starting in December, the distinguished professor will use the funding for his project titled Philosophical Traditions and Epistemic Values. Machery, whose research centers on the philosophical issues raised by cognitive science and neuroscience, has received several other grants from the John Templeton Foundation, including $3 million in 2018.

For that Geography of Philosophy project, which was completed in 2021, Machery led a team of dozens of researchers in ten countries to assess whether the concepts of knowledge, wisdom and understanding had the same meaning across cultural contexts.

W. Vincent Liu receives $1.5 million from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

W. Vincent Liu, a professor in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded $1.5 million from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to develop models in orbital physics.

The study of orbital waves — interacting quantum gasses of atoms and molecules in the context of orbital degrees of freedom harnessed by optical lattices under advanced spatiotemporal control — is somewhat analogous to the more familiar study of “spin.” Spin, however, is concerned with an internal symmetry, while an orbital wave relates a particle’s rotational symmetry relative to external space.

As part of the proposed project, Liu and his team will develop new theories and work to push forward the science of orbital physics by developing testable predictions for future projects. If successful, it will lead to the discovery of novel phases of matter with interesting and potentially beneficial properties in fundamental science. 

Just as an understanding of spin physics was crucial for the development of magnetic drives, orbital physics and engineering may lead to new tools for manipulating quantum matter.

— Brandie Jefferson, photography by Mike Drazdzinski

Researchers Haines, Langmead 2 win National Endowment for the Humanities grants

Two Pitt researchers were awarded funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in its latest round of grants, announced in August.

Katheryn Haines, head of the Center for American Music in Pitt’s University Library System, received $186,511 for her project. In July 2024, she will teach two weeklong workshops for K-12 teachers on the impact of the 1892 Homestead steel strike and how it contributed to America’s growth as an industrial power.

Alison Langmead, director of the Visual Media Workshop in Pitt’s Department of History of Art and Architecture, won $66,329. The clinical professor, who is jointly appointed by the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Computing and Information, will use the funding for her project Teaching Art History with AI, which will convene college and university educators and develop open education resources on the topic.

NEH awarded $41.3 million to projects nationwide that support research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.

José-Alain Sahel wins International Prize for Translational Neuroscience

José-Alain Sahel, distinguished professor and chairman of Pitt’s Department of Ophthamology, was awarded the International Prize for Translational Neuroscience alongside longtime collaborator Botond Roska. The Gertrud Reemtsma Foundation awards 60,000 euros each year to biomedical scientists and clinicians who make exceptional contributions toward the understanding of neurobiology and neurological diseases.

The researchers were honored for their pioneering work on restoring vision to blind patients using optogenetics, a way of creating light-sensitive cells using genes derived from algae. In the first demonstration of optogenetics in humans, they used optogenetic methods to partially restore vision in patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa in 2021.

Sahel and Roska, a professor at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel and one of the first to apply optogenetics to restore vision in animal models, met in 2001 while working in a lab Sahel directed at Louis Pasteur University. It was the start of a long collaboration: Roska directs lab studies with optogenetic therapies, while Sahel spearheads development and access to patients for clinical trials. By equipping diseased photoreceptors in the eye with light-sensing proteins, the pair hopes to reactivate the cells and restore their functionality.

Ora Weisz will receive 2023 Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award

Ora Weisz, assistant vice chancellor for faculty excellence in Pitt’s schools of the health sciences, will receive the 2023 Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award from the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB).

The annual award is presented to a scientist for outstanding scientific achievements and a record of active leadership in mentoring underrepresented groups. In Pitt’s School of Medicine, Weisz directs the Junior Faculty Scholar Awards program, which provides research support to junior investigators with significant extraprofessional responsibilities.

While at Pitt, Weisz has earned a School of Medicine Distinguished Mentor Award and a Postdoctoral Association Advocate Award. An alumna of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program, she is a member of Pitt Medicine’s Academy of Master Educators and director of its career mentoring program.

The professor of medicine and cell biology will receive a $1,000 stipend and will speak at ASCB’s annual meeting, Cell Bio 2023, in December.

Aurora Sharrard named to City & State PA's Energy and Environment Power 100 list

Aurora Sharrard has been included in City & State PA’s Energy and Environment Power 100, a compilation of the most prominent and influential people working within Pennsylvania’s energy and environment sectors.

As the executive director for Pitt’s Office of Sustainability, Sharrard has led the University to multiple landmarks, including the completion of the 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan and subsequent Progress Report and the Pitt Climate Action Plan detailing the University’s roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2037. She also oversaw a partnership with Vesper Energy’s Gaucho Solar Farm that will supply renewable energy to the Pittsburgh campus.

Sophia Choukas-Bradley served on panel focused on adolescent social media use

Sophia Choukas-Bradley, assistant professor of psychology in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, served on an American Psychological Association presidential panel that created the first advisory of its kind for adolescent social media use.

The recommendations, which were endorsed by the U.S. surgeon general, note that platforms can promote healthy socialization, but their use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure youth have skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe and meaningful experiences.

Along with its 10 recommendations, the full report is careful to note that, given the publicly available research, it is not possible to determine if social media is the cause of harmful impacts on youth. In addition, there have been relatively few studies conducted with youth from racial, ethnic, sexual, gender, socioeconomic or differently abled populations, or youth with chronic developmental or health conditions. The panel also called for “a substantial investment in research funding” and access to more data, including data from tech companies.

At Pitt, Choukas-Bradley is the director and principal investigator for the Teen and Young Adult Lab, which studies interpersonal and sociocultural influences on adolescent mental health, with an emphasis on gender, sexuality, social media use, body image, LGBTQ+ youth and intersectionality.

Center for Governance and Markets recognized for refugee work

The Center for Governance and Markets in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs was awarded the 2023 Outstanding Civic Engagement Project Award from the American Political Science Association on Sept. 1 for its continuing work supporting refugees and threatened scholars.

The award comes barely 21 months after the center first launched its Afghan Asylum Project, an effort to help Afghan people who supported American civilian and military efforts in Afghanistan apply for asylum in the United States. This student-led project recruited more than 100 faculty, staff and student volunteers to help more than 6,500 Afghans who approached the center for assistance. Find more details here.

School of Nursing honored as breastfeeding friendly place

The Pitt School of Nursing was recently selected as a recipient of an honorable mention/runner-up for the 27th annual Allegheny County Breastfeeding-Friendly Place Awards for their commitment to providing a designated space and resources for parents in need. 

The Allegheny County Health Department Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and the Allegheny County Breastfeeding Coalition host the ceremony in honor of National Breastfeeding Month each year.

Rosemary Capo joins GU LANDInG Academy’s newest cohort

Rosemary Capo, associate professor in Pitt’s Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences, has joined the second-ever cohort of the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Leadership Academy and Network for Diversity and Inclusion in the Geosciences (LANDInG) Academy.

AGU LANDInG Academy is a two-year, cohort-based professional development program for current and aspiring diversity, equity and inclusion leaders in the Earth and space sciences. Fellows from the 2021-2023 cohort reported benefits like a deeper understanding of DEI science, networking with DEI scholars and building a community of support for their own leadership.

An assistant dean for graduate studies and academic integrity officer for the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Capo has over 25 years of experience in the analysis of natural and produced waters and mineral, soil, and environmental samples, including four years as a postdoctoral researcher and research scientist at the California Institute of Technology and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Overacre-Delgoffe earns National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' New Innovator Award

Abby Overacre-Delgoffe, assistant professor in the Pitt School of Medicine’s Department of Immunology, earned a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases New Innovator Award for her project “Microbiota initiation of lymphangiogenesis.”

Overacre-Delgoffe will use the funding, totaling $1.5 million over five years, to research how gut bacteria drive the development of tertiary lymphoid structures, organized immune cell structures that often form at sites of inflammation, including tumors. The presence of tertiary lymphoid structures can predict response to immunotherapy and prognosis, so understanding how they develop could pave the way for new therapies to improve cancer outcomes.

A member of the Tumor Microenvironment Center at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Overacre-Delgoffe is a recipient of the Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist Award from the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. She is currently a member of the Society of Immunotherapy for Cancer Early Career Scientist Committee and the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Women’s Task Force.

Bruce Childers from School of Computing and Information graduates from Leadership Pittsburgh

During a 10-month session, LP provides local leaders with experiences and educational programming that will allow them to develop an enhanced understanding of the challenges facing senior management in the region. The program’s ultimate aim is to furnish leaders with the skills and resources necessary to guide their organizations toward addressing the region’s challenges and making an impact.

“Participating in LP opened my eyes to many issues facing the region in education, the arts, and our local communities. It reinforced that there are many wonderful resources that make this region truly special,” said Childers.

The flagship program of Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. — a multidisciplinary organization for leadership enrichment in Western Pennsylvania — has provided opportunities to senior-level leaders in the region for more than 40 years. Each year the size of the cohort ranges between 50 and 60 participants, each of whom are leaders in various industries and civic organizations.

“In addition to learning about education, the arts, the regional economy, health care and communities, we took a road trip to Harrisburg as a culminating experience. We were at the State Capitol on the day that Governor Josh Shapiro signed his first bill, which was passed with bipartisan support,” Childers said. “It was inspiring to learn how committed our state representatives are to working together for the betterment of the Commonwealth. Returning from this experience, I feel more confident and comfortable advocating about issues relevant to computing and information with our local state representatives.”

Karen Bursic elected fellow of American Society for Engineering Education

In recognition of her dedication to excellence in engineering education, Karen Bursic, professor of industrial engineering and undergraduate program director at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, was elected a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

Fellow status is ASEE’s highest honor, bestowed upon individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering education. Bursic was selected for her contributions to the field of engineering education, including her work on curriculum development, faculty development and student success.

Bursic is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and ASEE and has held leadership positions at the division level in both organizations. Since 1994, her work has focused on improving engineering education, with numerous publications in the area. Most recently, she developed an engineering economy concept inventory to provide a neutral assessment to determine students’ learning in engineering economy courses. This work earned her the 2020 ASEE Grant Award.

Elaine Mormer named fellow of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Elaine Mormer, the director of audiology clinical education in Pitt’s Department of Communication Science and Disorders, was named a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

To be named a fellow is among the highest honors ASHA bestows. The professor and vice chair for clinical education in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences was honored with inclusion in the 2023 class for outstanding contributions to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.

Mormer received the Provost’s Innovation in Education Award in 2019 and the American Academy of Audiology Outstanding Educator Award in 2020. She researches hearing loss in older adults and is a co-investigator on the Hearing for Communication and Resident Engagement (HearCARE) research project, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Mark DeRuiter takes leadership role in American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Mark DeRuiter, vice chair for academic affairs and professor in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, was elected to serve as vice president for standards and ethics in audiology for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

In his role on the ASHA board of directors, DeRuiter will help plan and coordinate the organization’s educational activities and ensure established standards for certification in audiology. A fellow of ASHA and the American Academy of Audiology, DeRuiter’s research focuses on auditory processing disorders and issues in clinical education.

DeRuiter also directs Pitt’s clinical science doctoral program in speech-language pathology in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders.