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, 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
College of Medicine
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
College of Medicine
Raymond Bergan, MD
Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
Jennifer Blackford, PhD
Munroe-Meyer Institute
Hongying (Daisy) Dai, PhD
College of Public Health
Yvonne Golightly, PhD
College of Allied Health Professions
Joseph Khoury, MD
College of Medicine
Daren Knoell, PharmD
College of Pharmacy
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
College of Nursing
Po-Jung Chen, DDS
College of Dentistry
Christopher Conrady, MD
College of Medicine
Jungyoon Kim, PhD
College of Public Health
Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, PhD
College of Medicine
Libby Mollard, PhD
College of Nursing
Nicole Shonka, MD
College of Medicine
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.