Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou, a Presidential Distinguished Professor and associate dean of JSU’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology, is among 22 scholars who have been selected by the International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI) to serve as a Distinguished Fellow of IETI for his innovative research.
Founded in 2015, IETI is an international organization that promotes discovery in Science, Engineering and Technology all over the world. IETI’s Distinguished Fellow recognition is the highest honor presented to global leaders and international experts who have made outstanding scientific and educational achievements. It also recognizes significant impacts in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“I thank the IETI Board of Directors and Executive Committee for selecting me for this prestigious award. I am also very grateful to Jackson State University for providing me the opportunity to conduct novel research that is being recognized at the international level, as well as to mentor and train globally competitive STEM graduates,” Tchounwou said.
Cost-effective molecular targets
Tchounwou’s research focuses on the “elucidation of cellular and molecular mechanisms of therapeutic drugs and xenobiotic compounds.” In other words, his research has led to the development of cost-effective molecular targets to better treat cancer and other environmentally induced diseases. Also, experts can develop prevention strategies.
In other successes, Tchounwou’s work on arsenic trioxide pharmacology and toxicology was highlighted in the fall 2011 issue of NCRR-Reporter Magazine at the National Institutes of Health.
The longtime JSU researcher has an esteemed published record on environmental health, molecular toxicology and carcinogenesis, environmental medicine and public health. He is author of 264 refereed publications in top-tiered journals and books. As well, he has served as organizer and/or session chair of scientific symposia and made 631 presentations and scientific abstracts at national and international conferences.
According to ResearchGate, Tchounwou “has been and continues to be the most cited researcher at JSU for the past five years.” In fact, it said, Tchounwou’s 2012 paper on “Heavy Metals and the Environment” has been cited 2,334 times.
$80 million in grants over the years
Since joining JSU in fall 1996, Tchounwou has secured more than $80 million in grants to support academic and research excellence. He serves as editor in chief of two international journals – the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IF-2.466, MDPI, Basel, Switzerland), and Environmental Toxicology-An International Journal (IF-2.649, John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA).
Currently, he is a guest editor of the special issue on Biological Determinants of Cancer Health Disparities to be published in Frontiers in Oncology (IF-4.137) in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is on the editorial board of several other journals, including the Journal of Cancer Science and Therapy; the Journal of Environmental Biology; and Reviews on Environmental Health.
For nearly 25 years, Tchounwou has recruited, trained and mentored hundreds, collectively. The individuals assisted are those from K-12; those studying for the bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.Ds; and those identified as junior faculty.
Because of his influence in producing African American doctorates in environmental health sciences, he was selected as the recipient of the 2013 AAAS Mentor Award. The honor – with only two given annually – was bestowed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In June 2018, he was selected by the White House and the National Science Foundation as one of its recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).
Tchounwou is also a recipient of many other awards for excellence in the profession. These include the 2003 Millennium Award for Excellence in Research (also from the White House); the 2001 National Role Model Award for Exemplary Achievements in Mentoring, Counseling and Guiding Others; and the AACR Faculty Scholar Award for Cancer Research.
Other recognitions include the International Order of Merit for Superb Contributions to Biomedical Sciences and the Decree of Merit for Outstanding Contributions to Toxicology and Public Health.