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Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award

The Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award (ORSA) is �������� State’s highest award for research and scholarship, celebrating awardees’ accomplishments throughout their career. Recipients are selected based on the quality of their work and its impact on society.  

“These annual awards represent �������� State’s top honor for exceptional researchers and scholars in the arts, humanities and sciences, with the ORSA and New Faculty ORSA celebrating recipients’ accomplishments over the course of their careers,” Douglas L. Delahanty, Ph.D., vice president for research and economic development, told �������� State Today. “Winners exemplify the breadth and excellence of scholarship at �������� State.”

The 2025 recipients of the Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award are:

Mary Ann Raghanti, Ph.D., professor and chairperson, Anthropology

Raghanti is a biological anthropologist whose research focuses on the evolution of the human brain. Her area of research expertise is in comparative neurobiology with an evolutionary perspective, neuromodulation of cognition, hormonal correlates of nonhuman primate behavior and neural mechanisms of social attachment. 

Hamza Balci, Ph.D., professor, Physics

Balci is an experimental biophysicist, and his fields of expertise include biophysics, single molecule, fluorescence microscopy, DNA repair, DNA-Protein interaction, microscopy, physics, natural and physical sciences, mathematics and technology, physical sciences, molecular biology and liquid crystals and transcription (DNA binding sites) (regulation).  

Brian Baer, Ph.D., professor, Modern and Classical Languages

Baer is a professor of Russian and Translation Studies at �������� State. He is the founding editor of the peer-reviewed journal “Translation and Interpreting Studies” and his published materials center on translation history, translation pedagogy and translation theory.

New Faculty Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award

The New Faculty Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award honors �������� State’s exceptional researchers and scholars early in their careers.

“The New Faculty ORSA honors exceptional researchers at �������� State who are within seven years of first becoming an assistant professor,” Sarah Smiley, professor of geography and department interim chair, said. “The exceptional and impactful research conducted by our faculty is reflected in the many nominations received for this award.”  

The recipients for the New Faculty Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award in 2025 are:  

Elias Nader, Ph.D., assistant professor, Sociology and Criminology

Nader’s research interests include policing, program implementation and evaluation, emerging adulthood and crime: life-course criminology.

Sangeet Lamichhaney, Ph.D., assistant professor, Biological Sciences

Lamichhaney previously launched a pioneering study in the adaptation of different species at high-altitude environments, where the oxygen levels are considerably lower.  

Excellence in Graduate/Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Excellence in Graduate/Undergraduate Research Mentoring Awards are intended to honor faculty members who effectively guide and support students through undergraduate or graduate research, scholarship or artistic productions and assist students in attaining and exceeding their goals.  

The 2025 Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award 2025 recipient is:

Tao Shen, Ph.D., assistant professor, College of Aeronautics and Engineering  

Shen’s primary research focus at the moment is on medical robots, such as surgical robots and walking assistant robots. He has previously conducted research on other robotic projects, including parallel robots, serial robots, robots on UAV and robotic vision.

The 2025 Excellence in Graduate Research Mentoring Award recipient is:

Gargi Bhaduri, Ph.D., associate professor and program lead, Fashion Design and Merchandising  

Bhaduri’s research centers on understanding how to empower the stakeholders in the supply chain to make more sustainable and environmentally friendly choices. For her, a communication-driven research approach provided the information behind the choices the stakeholders make.

Honorees were recognized April 17 in the �������� Student Center at the Faculty Club, hosted by the Office of the Provost in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning and University Libraries.