Awards for Excellence Recipients

A banner that says Aswards for Excellence

The University of Houston is pleased to announce the recipients of the Awards for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Assistant Professor

This award recognizes faculty who have demonstrated great potential in research, scholarship and creative endeavors by virtue of the exceptional quality of their early contributions.

  • Jacob Daane, Biology and Biochemistry
  • Melody Yunzi Li, Modern and Classical Languages

Associate Professor

This award recognizes faculty who have established a growing record of outstanding research, scholarship and creative contributions, and who are emerging leaders in their field.

  • Jakoah Brgoch, Chemistry
  • Amanda Venta, Psychology

Professor

This award recognizes faculty who have a substantial continuing record of outstanding research, scholarship and creative activities.

  • Vincent Tam, Pharmacy
  • Zhigang Deng, Computer Science

Previous Award Recipients

Assistant Professor: 

  • Weiyi Peng, Biology and Biochemistry
  • Peter Salib, Law

Associate Professor:

  • Jae-Hyun Ryou, Mechanical Engineering
  • Elizabeth Simas, Political Science

Professor:

  • Paul Cirino, Psychology
  • Gopal Pandurangan, Computer Science

Assistant Professors: 

  • Michael Kubo, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design
  • Andreas Mang, Mathematics

Associate Professors: 

  • Keliy Anderson-Staley, School of Art
  • Thomas Teets, Chemistry

Professors: 

  • Haleh Ardebili, Mechanical Engineering
  • Maxim Olshanskii, Mathematics

Assistant Professors: 

  • Vivien Coulson-Thomas, Optometry
  • Luis Oliveira, Philosophy

Associate Professors: 

  • Matthew Gallagher, Psychology
  • Ryan Kennedy, Political Science

Professors: 

  • Ioannis Kakadiaris, Computer Science
  • Steven Woods, Psychology

Assistant Professors:

  • Judy Wu, Chemistry
  • Andrew Renshaw, Physics

Associate Professors:

  • Anka Vujanovic, Psychology
  • Yingcai Zheng, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Professors:

  • Elena Grigorenko, Psychology
  • Ezemenari Obasi, Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences

Assistant Professors:

  • Jeremy Palmer, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  • James Nelson, UH Law Center

Associate Professors:

  • Debora Rodrigues, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Juan Madera, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

Professors:

  • Chitra Divakaruni, English
  • Rene Bellwied, Physics