By L.A. Warren
The Division of Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University recently honored 20 outstanding individuals during its 2024 Blue-Carpet Research Excellence Awards Luncheon that included three prestigious honors – the Overall Distinguished High Grant Award; the Trailblazer Award; and the highest, which was the Hall of Fame for Research Excellence Award. The event, themed “You Are Our Shining Stars,” was held on April 12 in the Terry L. Woodard Ballroom of the JSU Student Center.
The Hall of Fame Award was presented to Jerzy R. Leszczynski, Ph.D., and the Trailblazer Award was presented to Mehri Fadavi, Ph.D., both in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. The Overall High Grant Award was presented to Girmay Berhie, Ph.D., in the College of Health Sciences.
JSU President Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D., said, “This event serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence in research and innovation. It allows us to shine a spotlight on the groundbreaking work happening within our midst, showcasing the dedication and passion of our faculty and staff, and emphasizing the Jackson State environment where scholarship and ingenuity flourish across all disciplines. Each award honors our faculty and staff diversity of expertise and talent, and elevates Jackson State as a beacon of intellectual inquiry.”
Interim Vice President ConSandra McNeil, Ph.D., said the Division seeks to publicly acknowledge the significant contributions of researchers throughout the campus annually. “We recognize the profound impact of research. Therefore, we honor the dedication and commitment of our campus researchers – whether in business, economics, education, public health or STEM. Their work blazes new paths toward progress and innovation,” she said.
College and Division winners were determined based on achieving top-dollar amounts in grants and contracts for FY 22-23. Also, special honors were presented in a number of other categories to highlight revolutionary contributions by outstanding faculty.
College and Division winners:
- College of Liberal Arts: Robert Luckett, Ph.D.: He’s noted for his commitment to advancing knowledge and understanding of African American history and civil rights. He has received major awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mississippi Art Council, the Smithsonian Institute, and the Mellon Foundation
- College of Business: Lydia Didia, Ph.D.; Sharon Simmons, Ph.D., Edith Davidson, Ph.D., Saundra McFarland, Esq.: Each played pivotal roles in bringing the Mandela Washington Fellowship to JSU. The program aims to empower young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities in the U.S.
- College of Education and Human Development: Frank Giles, Ph.D.: Giles is the principal investigator of a project titled “Long-Term Training Project in Rehabilitation Counseling” funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The project aims to meet the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, including independence and inclusion.
- College of Science, Engineering, and Technology: Mehri Fadavi, Ph.D. and Paresh Ray, Ph.D.: Fadavi is recognized as a great leader, collaborator, facilitator, and mentor to junior faculty. She has amassed more than $30 million in externally funded grants. She is at the forefront of efforts to promote faculty advancement in instruction and mentoring, as well as to enhance mathematics teaching through professional development. Meanwhile, Ray explores innovative chemical strategies for cancer imaging and therapy and has developed nano-based sensors for detecting chemical and biological toxins.
- College of Health Sciences: Marinelle Payton, M.D., Ph.D.: Her research focuses on the inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes, in addition to her research with the Jackson Heart Study. Payton leads critical research funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.
- Division Award: Mitchell Shears, Ph.D.: Shears’ work supports education and student achievement through leadership with Title III and the TRIO programs. He works to ensure access to educational opportunities for First-Generation College Students.
Special honors:
- Research Excellence Hall of Fame: Jerzy R. Leszczynski, Ph.D.: His contributions to computational quantum chemistry have significantly advanced the understanding of molecular interactions and nanomaterials. His research findings, such as the discovery of nonplanar amino groups in DNA bases and the development of novel methods to study nanomaterials, have profound implications for various fields, including biochemistry and materials science. He has received the honorific title of Professor from the President of the Polish Republic; the White House Millennium Award for Teaching and Research Excellence; the Maria Sklodowska-Curie’s Medal; and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. He’s been appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Board of Scientific Counselors. His research accomplishments, accolades and leadership roles underscore his significant contributions to advancing computational quantum chemistry and addressing important scientific challenges with far-reaching implications. He is well-published in high-impact journals, has garnered over $50 million in sponsored research, and has numerous international research collaborations.
- Trailblazer Award: Mehri Fadavi, Ph.D.: Her research in physics, atmospheric sciences, and geoscience span from solar activities and their impact on climate change to the search for supernovae and asteroids. Fadavi is deeply involved in building instructional and research infrastructure in astronomy for students at JSU. By enhancing teaching effectiveness and integrating technology into K-12 science classrooms, she is not only advancing scientific knowledge but also fostering a passion for learning among students at all levels. She’s secured major grants from the National Science Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the U.S. Department of Education, including Project ICFAIM, Project MAT-PD, PLUTO-STEM, ACE, and ACCelSS. She has amassed more than $30 million in externally funded grants, and the JSU observatory is named in her honor.
- Overall Distinguished High Grant Award: Girmay Berhie, Ph.D.: His work in health information technology has garnered more than $13 million in research awards – $10 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology). The program prepares future professionals for success in a rapidly transforming digital landscape. He’s also received $700,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for the Digital Tele-Medicine Lab, and other funding from the Mississippi State Department of Health and the CDC Foundation.
- Student Champion Award: Martha Tchounwou, Ph.D.: She supports and advances STEM education and opportunities for students. She’s the Statewide Program Manager for the LSMAMP (Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation) program and director of the Scholars Academy/Student Support Services. She’s an advocate for STEM students and ensures they receive comprehensive academic and research experiences.
- Spotlight Award: Sadik Khan, Ph.D., and Yongfeng Zhao, Ph.D.: Khan received the prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation and has fostered partnerships with federal labs, industry stakeholders, and universities. He’s instrumental in projects such as foundational slopes and earth-retaining systems. Meanwhile, Zhao’s work consists of the synthesis of water-soluble magnetic nanoparticles, and he’s received a prestigious NSF CAREER grant. His cutting-edge, patent-pending approach could improve imaging techniques and diagnostics in various medical applications.
- Innovation Award: Shan Yang, Ph.D.: He’s developing the CariesFinder technology, a portable Raman imaging system for the early-stage detection of dental caries that could improve patient outcomes and reduce invasive procedures. He was awarded a U.S. patent for its innovative approach to acquiring full-scale Raman images from tooth surfaces within a clinically feasible time frame. He’s received funding through initiatives such as the Mississippi SMART Accelerate initiative.
- Rising Stars Award: Saiful Islam, Ph.D., and Qilin Dai, Ph.D.: Islam’s research has earned the German Academy Exchange Award and the U.S. Department of Energy’s visiting award for his research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Also, he’s garnered grants from the U.S. Energy Department, NSF and U.S. Department of Education. They’ve enabled him to advance research in electrochemical energy storage, conversion and environmental chemistry. He has more than 50 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and a patent, Meanwhile, Dai is recognized for his work in condensed matter physics. He’s a reviewer for approximately 20 journals and has published more than 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Nano Letters, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Nano Energy, and Advanced Energy Materials. Dai is an editorial board member at Nature. He’s received several funded grants.
- Newcomers of the Year Award: Lisa Beckley-Roberts, Ph.D., and Kejun Wen, Ph.D.: Beckley-Roberts has studied the role of traditional African religious practices in diaspora communities. She’s partnered with the Mississippi Department of Health on “African Music, Dance, and Arts as Tools to Develop a Healthier Community.” She recently earned a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council. Meanwhile, Wen’s research focuses on geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, and transportation engineering. Her research involves bio-mediated improvement of sandy soil and the application of paving fabrics to reduce reflective cracking in pavement rehabilitation programs. Wen delves into soil improvement, erosion control, pavement rehabilitation, and infrastructure durability. Her funding sources include NSF, NASA, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation.