2024 PSU Research Award Winners Announced

Today, Portland State University announced its 2024 awards for excellence in research, mentoring, and research administration. PSU’s Research Awards acknowledge faculty who exhibit exceptional research, scholarship, creativity, and commitment to the success of PSU students, and recognize one research administrator who makes an outstanding contribution to the production of research at the university. 

Six of the 15 research awards are university-wide; individual colleges and schools award the remaining nine. 

"I am thrilled to celebrate this year's award recipients at Portland State University,” said Rick Tankersley, Vice-President for Research & Graduate Studies, whose office manages the awards process. “These awards showcase the diverse and impactful contributions of our faculty and staff across various disciplines. Each winner enhances our mission through outstanding research and mentorship, enriching both PSU and our student community. It's especially exciting to introduce the 'Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year' award for the first time this year, highlighting our commitment to excellence and innovation in undergraduate education."

This year’s awardees will be celebrated at a special reception on Friday, May 10, to conclude the university's Research Week.

The university research award winners are:

• Presidential Career Research Award: Birol Yeşilada, Professor in Political Science and International Studies and Director, Center for Turkish Studies and the Mark O. Hatfield Cybersecurity & Cyber Defense Policy Center
• Early Career Research Award: Fang Song, Associate Professor in Computer Science
• Research Faculty Award: Papireddy Kancharla, Research Assistant Professor in Chemistry
• Graduate Mentoring Excellence Award: Karen Haley, Professor in the Postsecondary, Adult, and Continuing Education (PACE) program
• Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year: Bill Griesar, Teaching Assistant Professor in Psychology
• Research Administrator of the Year: Becca Lockwood, Sponsored Projects Officer

The college/school research award winners are:

• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Researcher of the Year: Alida Cantor, Associate Professor, Geography
• College of Education Researcher of the Year: Rana Yaghmaian, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Counselor Education
• College of the Arts Researcher of the Year: Alison Heryer, Costume Designer, School of Art + Design
• College of Urban and Public Affairs Researcher of the Year: Lindsay Benstead, Professor, Department of Politics and Global Affairs
• Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science Researcher of the Year: Raúl Bayoán Cal, Professor, Mechanical & Materials Engineering
• OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Researcher of the Year: Neal Wallace, Professor, Health Management & Policy, Health Systems & Policy
• School of Business Researcher of the Year: Marta Stelmaszak Rosa, Assistant Professor of Information Systems
• School of Social Work Researcher of the Year: Matthew Town, Assistant Professor, Social Work
• University Honors College Researcher of the Year: Amy Borden, Associate Professor, Humanities and Film Studies

Recipients of the awards are faculty and staff members at PSU who have shown extraordinary dedication to their work, going above and beyond to make progress in their fields and inspire the next generation. They are nominated by their colleagues and then selected by a jury of their peers, based on the significance and quality of their academic or creative work and their strong commitment to creating an environment that supports student success and research excellence. "This year, we are particularly proud of the contributions of our research administrators, whose efforts are crucial in facilitating our pioneering research endeavors," Tankersley stated.

"I am delighted to honor the remarkable achievements of our award winners, whose work spans multiple disciplines at Portland State University,” said Tankersley. “These accolades reflect our faculty and staff's significant impact on our academic community and their fields. Their dedication to research excellence and student success not only advances PSU's mission but also inspires within and beyond the university."