Five SBU Faculty Rise to the Rank of SUNY Distinguished Professor
Stony Brook University faculty members Anissa Abi-Dargham, J. Kirk Cochran, Maurizio Del Poeta, Yi-Xian Qin and Paul Shepson have been elevated to the rank of Distinguished Professor — a prestigious honor bestowed upon professionals of the highest caliber — by the State University of New York Board of Trustees.
“Appointment to a Distinguished Professorship at the State University of New York is a difficult rank to attain,” said SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. “You have made major contributions to the field, and are considered a pioneer with your groundbreaking and innovative research. Your commitment to professional excellence is reflected in your appointment to the State University’s highest academic rank. As a newly active member of the SUNY Distinguished Academy, you will work with other Distinguished Faculty across the SUNY system to encourage a renewed commitment to quality instruction, service on our campuses, and strong leadership development for our newer faculty.”
“I join Chancellor Jim Malatras in stating that ‘your dedication to the highest principles of our profession and your continuing contributions to SUNY are a source of pride and inspiration for us all,’” said Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis. “All of us at Stony Brook University are extremely proud of all you have accomplished. On behalf of the entire University community, thank you for your outstanding service to Stony Brook.”
About the Faculty
Anissa Abi-Dargham is Lourie Endowed Chair in Psychiatry, Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology, Director of the Multi-Modal Translational Imaging Lab, Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry, and Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Science, Renaissance School of Medicine. She is an expert in areas of molecular imaging, pharmacology, schizophrenia and addiction. Dr. Abi-Dargham employs the use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to study the neurobiology of schizophrenia and mental illnesses. Her research has resulted in seminal findings describing the complex alterations of dopamine transmission in schizophrenia and their relationship to clinical symptoms, cognition and response to treatment. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
J. Kirk Cochran is Professor of Marine Geochemistry in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. He uses natural radionuclides to study Earth surface processes. Much of his recent research has focused on using naturally occurring radionuclides to determine rates of particle cycling and particulate organic carbon fluxes in the open ocean. This work has as its goal an understanding of the fate of carbon in the ocean and has been carried out in the North Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
Maurizio Del Poeta is Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the Renaissance School of Medicine. His research team studies sphingolipid metabolism and signaling in fungal and mammalian cells to identify new markers for early diagnosis and specific microbial enzymes/molecules essential to cause infection in the attempt to develop new antifungal targets. Current antifungal treatments are often inadequate due a tardy diagnosis, collateral effects, and drug resistance.
Yi-Xian Qin is Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Director of Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, and Co-Director of the Institute for Engineering-Driven Medicine. His research is based on the physical mechanisms involved in the control of tissue growth, healing, and homeostasis, especially bone adaptation and regeneration influenced by the mechanical environment, as well as how these mechanisms can be utilized in the treatment and prevention of disease and injury and bone tissue engineering. He also focuses on the development of a non-invasive scanning acoustic diagnostic system for tissue quality and therapeutic ultrasound.
Paul Shepson is Dean of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. He conducts research on atmospheric chemistry and composition, interactions between the atmosphere and the surface, and how climate change impacts the physics, biology, and chemistry at the surface and in the atmosphere. Shepson studies Arctic and coastal halogen chemistry, greenhouse gas source and sink measurements, and atmospheric aerosols. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, and has approximately 220 peer-reviewed publications on various issues related to atmospheric and analytical chemistry. He is also an avid pilot with instrument, commercial, and multi-engine ratings
About the SUNY Distinguished Professorship
The Distinguished Professorship is conferred upon individuals who have achieved national and/or international prominence and a distinguished reputation within their chosen field. This distinction is attained through extraordinary contributions to, and impact on, the candidate’s field of study, often evidenced by significant research and/or creative activity. Moreover, the candidate should be a role model for students and other faculty and their work must be of such character that it has the potential to elevate the standards of scholarship or creative activity of colleagues both within and beyond their academic fields. Their work must be of such quality that students and scholars on other SUNY campuses would benefit from lectures and seminars, or other appropriate presentations the faculty members might provide. Further, to be eligible for nomination, a faculty member must have attained and held the rank of full professor for five years, and must have at least one year of full-time service at the nominating institution.
More information about SUNY’s faculty award program is available online.