Throughout WSU, in classrooms, labs, studios, at field sites, and in our communities across the state of Washington and beyond, WSU faculty tackle some of today’s most difficult problems every day.
All year, the Office of Research Advancement and Partnerships will be hosting events celebrating the successes and highlighting the diversity of WSU faculty researchers and creative practitioners. ORAP will also be providing training and workshop opportunities in support of faculty research and creative practice.
Each year, the Research Excellence awards are given to faculty members who exemplify the very best of research and creative practice at WSU. Learn more about last year’s winners below and join us on Zoom or in-person in Pullman on October 24 to celebrate the winners for 2024!
Steve Sheppard, Ph.D | Entomology Dr. Sheppard’s work on honeybee breeding, varroa mite control, and many other aspects of honeybee health in North America is valued by beekeepers throughout the United States and beyond and it is through his efforts that WSU has a world-class honeybee and pollinator research program
Teams that Build Award
IMPACT Lab | Human Development The IMPACT team, short for Improving Prevention through Action, takes an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to prevention science. This group has been instrumental in advising the state on evidence-based prevention programs, helping to guide limited resources toward programs with the greatest impact.
Advancing Equity in Research Award
Jae Kennedy, Ph.D. | Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Dr. Kennedy has been a leader for decades working to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities in conversations and research about disability services. His work is a key example of putting WSU’s land grant mission into practice and advancing equity and inclusion in all aspects of the research process.
Pacesetter Award
Dana Shaw, Ph.D. | Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology Dr. Shaw was awarded an NIH R21 grant before her career at WSU even began at 2018. Since then, she has consistently received funding for her research on a previously poorly understood area of tick-borne disease research. Even at this early stage in her career she is considered a leader in her field.
Catalyst Award
Mechthild Tegeder, Ph.D. | School of Biological Sciences Dr. Tegeder (center) is an exceptional scientist and an international leader in plant science. In addition to the stellar reputation that she boasts in her field—as evidenced by her many grants and awards including her election to the Washington Academy of Sciences—she has been a stalwart mentor for young scientists. Dr. Tegeder’s career embodies the spirit of WSU’s land grant mission.