University Times

Six Pitt faculty members and a graduate teaching assistant are recipients of 2012 Carnegie Science Awards.

The awards are given annually by the Carnegie Science Center to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and organizations that work to improve lives through their commitment and contributions to science and technology in western Pennsylvania.

The honorees were announced Feb. 2; they will be recognized at a ceremony at Carnegie Music Hall on May 11.

The Advanced Materials Award recipient is Eric Beckman, Bevier Professor of Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering, and co-director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation. Beckman developed TissueGlu, a biodegradable surgical adhesive designed to complement traditional tissue suturing techniques in medicine.

The University/Post-Secondary Educator Award recipients are Melissa Bilec, faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; assistant director for education and outreach at the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, and director of the construction management program and Green Construction Project at Pitt, and Amy Landis, also a faculty member in civil and environmental engineering.

Both Bilec and Landis promote sustainability as it relates to engineering issues. Bilec is conducting research on green building metrics. Landis is performing biofuel research and environmental modeling.

The Catalyst for Professional and Community Education Award recipient is Evan Waxman, faculty member in ophthalmology and vice chair of the medical and resident education program in the School of Medicine. Waxman donates his time conducting clinics and providing eye exams to people in need in western Pennsylvania.

The Emerging Female Scientist Award recipient is Lillian Chong, faculty member in the Department of Chemistry, who is an expert in computational biophysics, molecular dynamics simulations and protein structure and function. Chong’s lab is pursuing protein-related questions that cannot be addressed by traditional laboratory experiments and developing approaches for computational analysis of protein structure and function.

The Life Sciences Award recipient is Joel Schuman, Eye and Ear Foundation Professor and chair of ophthalmology in the School of Medicine and director of the UPMC Eye Center. An expert on glaucoma, Schuman has been recognized for making contributions to science and technology. He was selected specifically for improving lives through his scientific innovations.

The University/Post-Secondary Student Award recipient is Douglas Nelson, a graduate teaching assistant in the University of Pittsburgh Simulation and Medical Technology R&D Center. Nelson’s research includes 3-D tracking technologies, gesture-based interfaces and methods to incorporate intelligent tutoring systems into medical training.

In addition, a Pitt graduate student earned an honorable mention. Sam Rothstein, a PhD candidate in chemical and petroleum engineering, is the University/Post-Secondary Student honorable mention recipient. Rothstein invented a more efficient method for designing time-release medications and championed its development through preclinical testing of several dosage forms.