Distinguished Scientists

They are the best and brightest from all over the world, working tirelessly right here in the heartland to discover treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases.

They are at the center of discovery, conducting breakthrough research that will improve the lives of Nebraskans and beyond. They are UNMC's Distinguished Scientists.

2023 Award Ceremony

The University of Nebraska Medical Center's 2023 honorees will be honored in a hybrid virtual and in-person award ceremony at 4 p.m. November 9 at the Durham Research Center auditorium.

Watch the ceremony I View a printable program

Scientist Laureate

The UNMC Scientist Laureate Award is the highest honor UNMC bestows to researchers.

Michele Balas, PhD

Michele Balas, PhD

Michele Balas, PhD, the associate dean of research at the UNMC College of Nursing and Dorothy Hodges Olson Distinguished Professor of Nursing at the college, has been named UNMC’s 18thScientist Laureate.

Research Leadership Award

The Research Leadership Award is intended to honor scientists previously recognized as Distinguished Scientists who have a longstanding research funding history, and also serve as research leaders and mentors on campus.

Carol Casey, PhD

Carol Casey, PhD

College of Medicine

John Davis, PhD

John Davis, PhD

College of Medicine

Distinguished Scientists

The Distinguished Scientist Award – which is sponsored by the chancellor – recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists in the country during the past five years.

Karsten Bartels, MD, PhD

Karsten Bartels, MD, PhD

College of Medicine

Raymond Bergan, MD

Raymond Bergan, MD

Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases

Jennifer Blackford, PhD

Jennifer Blackford, PhD

Munroe-Meyer Institute

Hongying (Daisy) Dai, PhD

Hongying (Daisy) Dai, PhD

College of Public Health

Yvonne Golightly, PhD

Yvonne Golightly, PhD

College of Allied Health Professions

Joseph Khoury, MD

Joseph Khoury, MD

College of Medicine

Daren Knoell, PharmD

Daren Knoell, PharmD

College of Pharmacy

St Patrick Reid, PhD

St Patrick Reid, PhD

College of Medicine

New Investigators

New Investigator Awards go to outstanding UNMC scientists who in the past two years have secured their first funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense or other national sources. New Investigators also had to demonstrate scholarly activity, such as publishing their research or presenting their findings at national conventions.

Windy Alonso, PhD

Windy Alonso, PhD

College of Nursing

Po-Jung Chen, DDS

Po-Jung Chen, DDS

College of Dentistry

Christopher Conrady, MD

Christopher Conrady, MD

College of Medicine

Jungyoon Kim, PhD

Jungyoon Kim, PhD

College of Public Health

Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, PhD

Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, PhD

College of Medicine

Libby Mollard, PhD

Libby Mollard, PhD

College of Nursing

Nicole Shonka, MD

Nicole Shonka, MD

College of Medicine

Joseph Siu, PhD

Joseph Siu, PhD

College of Allied Health Professions

Community Service to Research

The Community Service to Research Awards were established to recognize the critical roles many community members have played in UNMC research, as facilitators, implementors, reviewers, and collaborators, among other roles.