Download photos from this year’s Spring Sciences Celebration on the College of Sciences’ Flickr.
The College of Sciences recognized faculty and staff excellence during the 2026 Spring Sciences Celebration. Held each spring on Tech Tower Lawn, this signature event also honors recent retirees.
“Spring Sciences is a time to celebrate exceptional members of our community,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “We thank this year’s honorees for their outstanding contributions and dedication to our mission.”
The 2026 honorees are:
Faculty Development Awards
The Cullen-Peck Scholar Awards were established by Frank Cullen (Math 1973, M.S. ISyE 1976, Ph.D. ISyE 1984) and Elizabeth Peck (Math 1975, M.S. ISyE 1976) to encourage the development of especially promising mid-career faculty.
- William Gutekunst, Chemistry and Biochemistry
- D. Zeb Rocklin, Physics
- Minoru “Shino” Shinohara, Biological Sciences
The Gretzinger Moving the School Forward Award, endowed by Ralph Gretzinger (Math 1970) and named in honor of his late wife, Jewel, recognizes the leadership of a school chair or senior faculty member who has played a pivotal role in advancing equal opportunity in the composition of tenure-track faculty, fostering a family-friendly work environment, and providing a supportive environment for early-career faculty.
- Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, Psychology
The Eric R. Immel Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching, endowed by Charles Crawford (Math 1971), recognizes exemplary teaching in foundational undergraduate courses. It honors the late School of Mathematics professor Eric R. Immel, who greatly influenced Crawford’s undergraduate experience at the Institute.
- Zachary Handlos, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
The CoS Faculty Mentor Awards, established jointly by the College of Sciences and its ADVANCE Professor, recognize the efforts and achievements of faculty members who mentor fellow faculty.
- Alexander Robel, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Chongchun Zeng, Mathematics
Research Faculty Awards
The CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award and CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award recognize postdoctoral and non-tenure-track research faculty whose exceptional research contributions have had a significant impact on their fields of study.
CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award
- Chaebin Kim, Physics
CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award
- Brant Jones, Chemistry and Biochemistry
The CoS Research Faculty Community Trailblazer Award recognizes postdoctoral and non-tenure-track research faculty who have demonstrated and sustained leadership that strengthens the sense of community among research faculty within the College.
- Dustin Huard, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Staff Awards
The College of Sciences Staff Awards are made possible by funding from the Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean’s Chair endowment. These awards include:
The Leadership in Action Award recognizes a staff member who has made exceptional contributions to the College through innovative and strategic leadership, change management, business process improvement, special project leadership, and similar accomplishments.
- Leslie Roberts, College of Sciences Dean’s Office
The Exceptional Staff Award and the Friend of the Sciences Award recognize performance above and beyond the call of duty. The awardees demonstrate high levels of execution in their primary job duties, auxiliary roles, and citizenship, positively impacting the strategic goals of the College.
Exceptional Staff Award
- Joshua Crowe, Biological Sciences
Friend of the Sciences Award
- Eme Anderson, Office of Sponsored Programs
The Rising Star Award honors a newer staff member who has made a significant impact during their short tenure by contributing to the strategic goals and initiatives of the College, showing passion for their work, and embracing the Institute’s culture and values.
- Drake Lee-Patterson, Biological Sciences
2026 Retirees
Faculty
- Rafael Bras, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Predrag Cvitanović, Physics
- Martin Jarrio, Physics
- Michael Loss, Mathematics
Staff
- Judith Taylor, Mathematics
Related Media
2026 Spring Sciences Honorees
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Writer: Lindsay C. Vidal
