University of South Dakota

Three faculty members were recognized in 2012 for outstanding research. Recipients were selected through a highly competitive process with both university and external reviewers. The selections are a strong endorsement of each researcher's creativity and innovation, and an honor for the university to bestow. Researchers receiving the prestigious awards include:

President's Award for Research Excellence: Early-Mid Career Faculty

• Mark Dixon, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Biology

President's Award for Research Excellence: Established Faculty

• Mary Berry, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Chemistry

President's Award for Research Innovation & Entrepreneurship

• Andrew Shim, EDD, Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Sports Medicine

In each category, candidates were reviewed based on past and current research accomplishments, including criteria such as publications, presentations, successful grantsmanship, serving as a peer reviewer, maintenance of an active graduate and/or undergraduate program, and other competitive research awards. The Innovation & Entrepreneurship award further required demonstrated innovative thinking or research findings that had promising commercial potential as well as a concept that had progressed beyond the theoretical stage to the applied stage. 

"Each year, the reviewers for these awards are presented with the challenge of choosing just one winner in each category from a very talented group of faculty," said Laura Jenski, Ph.D., vice president for research at USD.  "USD is honored to recognize these deserving faculty members for their continued excellence in their research endeavors."

Each award recipient receives a $3,000 grant and a plaque. The President's Awards for Research Excellence for Early-Mid Career Faculty and Established Faculty, and the President's Award for Research Innovation & Entrepreneurship are awarded annually and open to USD faculty in each of the three categories.