New Appointments

Elizabeth Bryda
Veterinary Pathobiology 

• Research takes a comparative medicine approach to study human disease through animal models, such as kidney disease, deafness, and inflammatory bowel disease. 
• Director of NIH-funded Rat Resource and Research Center since 2011. 
• Elected to the governing body of the International Mammalian Genome Society and serves on the International Committee on Standardized Genetic Nomenclature for Mice and the International Society of Transgenic Technologies.

Jianlin “Jack” Cheng
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

• Leading expert of AI and deep learning techniques to predict protein structure and function.
• Published 184 journal articles, 8 book chapters, and has more than 17,300 citations with an h-index of 59 (Google Scholar). 
• Productivity ranks in 1st quintile of national and AAU scholars in the field (Academic Analytics).
• Fellow of the American Institute for Medical/Biological Engineering and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association.

Zhiqiang Hu
Civil and Environmental Engineering 

• Internationally recognized scholar for work on impact of nanosilver and other nanomaterials on environmental processes, helping the EPA in the development of commercial regulations.
• More than 100 published articles and 11,400 citations. 
• Ranked among the Top 2% of Scientists List over the last three consecutive years (Stanford University), is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and recipient of two EPA P3 awards. 

Erica Lembke
Special Education

• Research focuses on supporting teachers and students with or at risk for learning or other academic disabilities. 
• Published 59 articles, 1 book, and 18 book chapters.
• Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and member of the Society for Scholars in School Psychology. 
• Her work has been recognized by the Council for Administrators of Special Education and the Council for Exceptional Children.

Blake Meyers  
Plant Sciences and Technology

• Research focus is on plant molecular biology with an emphasis on RNA sequencing in plants. 
• Published over 200 articles with over 38,000 citations. 
• Productivity ranks in 1st quintile of national and AAU scholars in the field (Academic Analytics).
• Elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Eric Sandvol
Geological Sciences

• Outstanding researcher with an established reputation as both a theoretical and field seismologist. 
• Published over 100 papers with 9,417 citations.
• Served on and chaired the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission and is a standing member of the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology.
• Received the Otto Nuttli Award for Service in Earthquake Science from the Seismological Society of America. 

Carsten Ullrich
Physics and Astronomy

• Physicist whose research has advanced quantum dynamics and enabled a better understanding of quantum memory and dissipation effects. 
• Over 7,100 citations including a graduate-level textbook that has become a standard reference in the field. 
• Fellow of the American Physical Society and NSF CAREER Award Recipient and has been awarded various campus level research awards. 

Xiu-Feng “Henry” Wan 
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology 

• International leader in studies of influenza A and other pathogenic viruses. Studies used to develop vaccines and identify how viruses emerge and spread between humans and animals. 
• Published 173 papers, has an h-index of 40 (Google Scholar), and ranks among the most productive of his national and AAU peers (Academic Analytics).
• Fellow for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and recipient of the Pfizer Research Award.

Patrick Westhoff
Agricultural and Applied Economics

• Leads the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI-MU) and conducts research on agricultural markets and policymaking. 
• Published 36 journal articles, 3 book chapters, and 1 book. 
• Delivered more than 40 briefs or testimonies to the U.S. Congress, and a total of 400 presentations across 19 countries. 
• Recipient of the Bruce Gardner Award from the USDA Agriculture Economists Group, among other national recognition.

Simon Friedman
Pharmacy

• Research includes development of strategies to inhibit important drug targets and control gene expression with light. 
• Current focus is on creation of a photoactivated depot (PAD) approach allowing for the controlled release of therapeutic proteins, such as insulin, with light. 
• Work covered in The Economist, Discover Magazine, NPR, and The New York Times. 
• Paper designated a “Very Important Paper” by ChemPhotoChem in 2021. Recipient of UMKC Trustees’ Faculty Fellowship Award for Research. 

Clancy Martin
Philosophy

• Writing focuses on nineteenth century philosophy, existentialism, moral psychology, and applied ethics.
• Published 14 books in addition to 186 publications (articles, book chapters, reviews, etc.). Writing featured in The New Yorker, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Ethics, Journal of History of Philosophy, Harper’s, and Vice. 
• Work has been recognized by Online Journalism Awards,Best American Essays, the L.A. Times, The Guardian, the Paris Review Daily. 
• Recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship.

Yong Wang
Oral and Craniofacial Sciences 

• Research focuses on biomaterials and their application in calcified tissues. 
• Research has been continuously funded by the NIH for over 20 years. 
• Published 168 journal articles and 22 book chapters/reviews with over 9,700 citations. 
• Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering; the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research; the Academy of Dental Materials. 

Baojn Bai
Geosciences and Geological & Petroleum Engineering

• Developed a particle gel for conformance control that has been used in over 10,000 wells and is now considered a standard industry practice. 
• Has 3 patents awarded. 
• Published 260 journal articles with over 12,000 citations. Listed as a Top 2% researcher in engineering by Stanford University.
• Distinguished Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineering (SPE) and recipient of the SPE Mid-Continent Achievement Award for Petroleum Engineering Faculty. 

Jagannathan Sarangapani 
Electrical and Computer Engineering 

• Research on neural networks have led to major breakthroughs with applications for engine fuel efficiency that have been utilized by businesses like Caterpillar and Boeing.
• Published 500 journal articles and 6 books with nearly 13,000 citations.
• Has 22 patents. 
• Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the National Academy of Inventors. 

Susan Brownell
Anthropology

• Internationally recognized expert on Chinese sports, Olympic Games, and World’s Fairs, with a focus on the interplay between the body, sports, transnationalism, and ritual. 
• Published two single-author books, one co-author book, five edited volumes, 28 book chapters, and 20 journal articles. Has delivered 12 keynote speeches to various academic audiences.
• Appointed to the International Olympic Committee Research Council, was a Fulbright Senior Researcher at Beijing Sport University, and was invited to become a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.

Irina Ivliyeva
Arts, Languages, and Philosophy

• Research and teaching focuses on Russian linguistics and language acquisition. 
• Supports teaching excellence of others through the Teaching Partners Program and Master Mentors, which provide S&T faculty with access to confidential, formative assessment.
• Served as leader of the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence for 3 years while continuing to teach 5 courses/yr.
• Received 23 consecutive Outstanding Teaching Awards at S&T since 1999; Faculty Teaching Awards in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2021; the 2020 Faculty Excellence Award; and three-time recipient of the S&T Sustained Excellence in Outstanding Teaching Award.

Jerry Atwood
Chemistry

• Pioneer in the area of supramolecular chemistry whose work has had medical applications for encapsulating drugs, sensors, and molecular magnetism. 
• Published 774 journal articles and has been awarded 20 patents. Co-author of the Supramolecular Chemistry textbook published by Wiley. 
• Work has been cited 52,000 times. 
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Royal Society of Chemistry has received multiple national and international research awards. 

Marjorie Skubic
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 

• Internationally recognized expert in non-invasive health monitoring and medical assessments for older adults. 
• Studies sensor networks for health monitoring, preventative health assessments, rehabilitation tools, and user interfaces to foster proactive healthcare.
• Has 5 patents and more than 325 publications. 
• Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and a Senior Member of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 

Keith Benjamin 
Music Performance

• Dr. Benjamin is considered one of the finest trumpet soloists in the country whose creative activity ”is remarkable in scope, quality, and quantity.” 
• He has given over 200 performances and made three recordings in the last 5 years, including with internationally recognized groups and at the request of renowned musicians and actors. 
• He has served on over 100 graduate student committees and presented master classes at universities across the US and overseas. 

Joseph Carroll
English

• Professor Carroll is an expert in British literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, literary theory, psychology and literature, short stories in world literature, and literature adapted to film.
• He is considered the founder of a new school of literary theory integrating humanism with evolutionary behavioral sciences, psychology, and neuroscience. 
• Dr. Carroll has published six books and produced an annotated edition of Charles Darwin’s seminal work, On the Origin of Species. 

Robert Cottone
Education Sciences 

• Research interests include advanced theoretical issues and ethical and philosophical issues in counseling. 
• Published five books, fifty articles, and three book chapters. One book, Ethics and Decision Making in Counseling and Psychotherapy, is a leading textbook in the field in its 5thed.
• Recipient of the National Exemplary Service Award from the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association and the “Sustained Contribution to the Literature” Award from the International Association for Marriage and Family Counseling.
• Fellow of the American Counseling Association.

Alexei Demchenko
Chemistry

• Professor Demchenko is an expert on the synthetic chemistry of carbohydrates and their role in human health and disease.

• He has developed methods needed to study the role of carbohydrates in infection, immunity, cancer, sepsis, and infant development, and his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the American Heart Association, Pfizer, and the UM Strategic Investment Fund. 

• He has published 181 articles, presented 160 invited lectures, and delivered 225 presentations at scientific meetings. 

Michelle Arnopol Cecil
Law

• Dr. Cecil has been recognized for her extraordinary teaching throughout her career as well as remaining an active scholar of taxation law. 

• She is the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching, and the Gold Chalk Award. 

• She was a key contributor to a book designed to help professors develop their teaching philosophies and improve their pedagogy. 

Thomas Phillips
Biological Sciences

• Over the course of his career, Dr. Phillips has taught two senior capstone courses, an Honors cell biology course, and a professional skills seminar course for rising juniors.
• Has served as the faculty co-advisor for the Pre-Med Honors Freshman Interest Group continuously since 1998.
• Recipient of two Blue Chalk Awards for undergraduate advising, the Outstanding Greek Faculty Award, the Purple Chalk Award for Teaching Excellence, the Excellence in Education Award, the Kemper Teaching Fellowship Award, and the Shutz Award and Lecture for Distinguished Teaching.