As faculty from every school at Tulane University gathered for the annual Research, Scholarship and Artistic Achievement Awards, it was clear that it had been a landmark year for Tulane exploration, discovery and creativity. The ceremony, which took place last fall in downtown New Orleans, honored the groundbreaking accomplishments of faculty across the university.

President Michael A. Fitts welcomed attendees and recognized the tremendous work of the night’s award winners.

“All of tonight’s honorees have had a hand in elevating Tulane to a new level of prominence as a research institution internationally,” Fitts said. “Everyone in this room should take great pride in being part of this pivotal moment as we continue to catapult our research enterprise to the next level.”

Emcee and medical reporter Meg Farris celebrated the incredible work of these faculty members. “Fueled by the urgent and pressing needs of society, Tulanians craft solutions with lasting impact, leading to real changes that make a difference in the lives of others,” she said, before welcoming Vice President for Research Dr. Giovanni Piedimonte to the stage.

Piedimonte praised Tulane’s extraordinary growth in funding for research, scholarship and artistic activities over the past few years. “Our sustained growth is the best guarantee that Tulane will remain among the top academic institutions participating in the prestigious Association of American Universities,” he said.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Robin Forman congratulated the honorees and described the importance and beauty of research. “There is something magical about the kind of research that happens at a university like Tulane,” he said.

HALL OF FAME

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Dr. Pierre Buekens

W.H. Watkins Professor, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Director of the Center for Emerging Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology

Adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynecology, School of Medicine

Described by his colleagues as “among the best perinatal researchers in the world,” Dr. Buekens has focused his life’s work on studying both neglected and emerging infectious diseases that impact pregnancy. He first came to Tulane as dean of the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He served in that role for 15 years, overseeing the school’s evolution and launching its first undergraduate degree program. As a nationally and internationally recognized leader in his field, he published more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and served on the editorial boards of some of the most respected medical journals in the world.

HALL OF FAME

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Jeffrey Tasker

Catherine and Hunter Pierson Chair in Neuroscience, School of Science and Engineering

Professor of cell and molecular biology

Leading member of the Tulane Brain Institute

Tasker is an internationally recognized leader in the neurobiology of stress and stress disorders, receiving continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1994. He has nearly 10,000 citations and over 100 peer-reviewed publications to his name. He embraces a collaborative approach, with co-authors on his publications ranging from Tulane faculty across different departments and schools, as well as postdoctoral researchers and graduate and undergraduate students. A member of the Tulane faculty for over three decades, he has committed to building on Tulane’s strengths in neuroscience to make the university a leader in the field.

SPIRIT OF TULANE

Outstanding work that embodies “Non sibi sed suis”

Kailash Pandey, Professor, School of Medicine

Pandey’s discoveries have advanced the understanding of cardiovascular health and expanded drug discovery efforts to address heart failure and hypertension. His collaborative research programs and teaching efforts have nurtured the growth of countless students and researchers.

Karissa Haugeberg, Associate professor, Eva-Lou Joffrion Edwards Newcomb Professorship in History, School of Liberal Arts

Haugeberg has made significant contributions to the fields of history, reproductive health and community engagement, with her research deepening the understanding of complex social movements. Her leadership in securing a prestigious Mellon Foundation Grant for the School of Liberal Arts is creating opportunities for global dialogue on women’s health access.

INNOVATION

Development of novel ideas and insights through interdisciplinary scholarship to address clinical, public health or societal challenges

Kyle Straub, Professor and Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Science and Engineering

Straub’s research in experimental sedimentology has advanced knowledge of river deltas and submarine channels and provided critical insights into climate history and natural resource sustainability. His interdisciplinary approach integrates cutting-edge technology and engineering to address global challenges.

Eric Dumonteil, Associate professor, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Dumonteil demonstrated creativity and scientific rigor in tackling the complex and neglected Chagas disease, developing a nucleic acid-based vaccine that offers protection against acute and chronic stages of this infection. By combining deep knowledge of parasite biology with modern vaccine technology, he has shown success in experimental models.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Record of sustained entrepreneurship and new venture creation

Tony Hu, Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Biotechnology Innovation, Director of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Medicine

Hu has transformed funding from esteemed organizations into impactful technologies that benefit society. He has published over 150 papers, filed 25 patent applications, with 14 of those licensed, and cofounded four biotech startups. His numerous accolades, including the National Academy of Inventors Fellowship and the university’s Galaxy Award, underscore his contributions to the field.

IP INNOVATOR

New patentable intellectual property that is expected to lead to a licensable technology or commercialization

Lisa Morici, Professor, School of Medicine

James McLachlan, Associate professor, School of Medicine

Morici and McLachlan have co-developed a biodefense vaccine currently in human phase 1 clinical trials in Australia, expected to launch in mid-2025. They also pioneered T-vant, an OMV-based adjuvant for which they obtained a patent and are seeking funding to initiate a clinical trial aimed at eliminating whooping cough. They have supported and mentored dozens of trainees, many pursuing innovations of their own, enhancing the culture of innovation at Tulane.

GALAXY

Recognizes a scholar with a five-year history of funding and of enhancing Tulane’s research mission

Dr. Ronald Veazey, Professor, School of Medicine and Chair of the Division of Comparative Pathology, Tulane National Primate Research Center

Dr. Veazey’s work has advanced the understanding of HIV and SIV and impacted the training and mentorship of future scientists. He has over 200 peer-reviewed publications, numerous invited presentations at national and international meetings, and a research portfolio including nine active awards totaling over $14 million.

PROVOST’S AWARD

Excellence in research that addresses societal inequalities and promotes social change

Carla Laroche, Felder-Fayard Associate Professor of Law, School of Law

Laroche draws on her experience as an attorney and clinical law teacher to confront disparities at the intersection of criminal legal systems and voting rights. Her work illuminates the legal and nonlegal obstacles individuals face, offering practical solutions to dismantle these barriers.

FUNDING

Largest combined dollar amount of funding for direct costs for calendar year 2023

(STEM) Emily Harville, Professor, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Harville has a calendar year grant portfolio of just over $5 million, including two NIH research grants and one National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine grant. Her research focuses on how pregnancy and reproduction relate to health throughout life.

(Non-STEM) Hazel Woods, Professor of Practice and Associate Director of Education Programs, School of Professional Advancement

In the NOLA Seed Project year two, SoPA will operate as lead recipient of a $3.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and will partner with other New Orleans organizations to recruit and develop over 500 certified educators to be placed in New Orleans public schools.

CONVERGENCE

Successful collaboration to surpass traditional academic disciplines

Byron Mouton, Director of URBANbuild and Lacey Senior Professor of Practice, School of Architecture

Through a unique blend of pedagogy, design and community engagement, Mouton has led his students in the hands-on design and construction of 20 homes in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood. These projects result in peer-reviewed publications co-authored with colleagues across disciplines. His partnerships with researchers, developers and the local community create an innovative model for integrating education, research and service.

Frédéric Sourgens, James McCulloch Chair in Energy Law and Director of the Tulane Energy Law Center, School of Law

Sourgens’ work has deepened understanding of the global energy transition, with his work spanning energy law, environmental law, international law and business, while drawing on the expertise of engineers, technologists and policymakers. His efforts to organize the Tulane Energy Forum brought together scholars and professionals from diverse fields, providing a platform for critical conversations on climate change, geopolitical risks and energy markets.

STUDENT/TRAINEE RESEARCH MENTORING AWARD

Recognizes an exceptional research mentor

Sarah Lindsey, Associate professor and Dr. Barbara S. Beckman Professorship in Pharmacology, School 
of Medicine

For over 12 years, Lindsey has led an independent research lab at Tulane, focusing on understanding cardiovascular diseases, with a strong emphasis on women’s health. She has mentored 20 undergraduate students, 9 graduate students and 5 postdoctoral fellows directly, in addition to serving as co-mentor for 17 trainees and participating in 13 research-focused dissertation committees. The numerous awards her trainees have received underscore her commitment to their success.

RISING STAR

Demonstrates exceptional growth and impact within five years of appointment to Tulane, in one or more research areas

Sönke Dangendorf, David and Jane Flowerree Assistant Professor, School of Science and Engineering

Since joining Tulane just over two years ago, Dangendorf has achieved remarkable success in the field of global sea level change. His research has led to nine publications in 2023 alone, including three in journals like Nature Communications and Science. His work has received $4.6 million in funding and established him as a leading voice in this area of climate science.

CITATION

Highest number of citations for a peer-reviewed article in 2023

Dr. Lu Qi, HCA Regents Distinguished Chair and Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Epidemiology, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and Director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center, for “Association of Cardiovascular Health With Life Expectancy Free of Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Cancer and Dementia in UK Adults,” JAMA Internal Medicine, April 1, 2023

The article received more than 70 citations over the past year and has been deemed a Web of Science “Highly Cited Paper,” with enough citations to place it in the top 1% of the field of clinical medicine for the 2023 publication year. It is in the top 5% of all research publications scored by Altmetric.

PUBLICATION

Exceptional contributions to academic literature

(Journal article) Sönke Dangendorf, David and Jane Flowerree Assistant Professor, School of Science and Engineering, for “Acceleration of U.S. Southeast and Gulf Coast Sea-level Rise Amplified by Internal Climate Variability,” Nature Communications, April 10, 2023

Dangendorf’s cross-institutional team’s work was reported to the public through 219 new outlets and 17 blogs. The article focuses on sea level rise and features collaboration by a team of researchers, including Thomas Frederikse at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory.

(Book) Jesmyn Ward, Professor of English and Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities, School of Liberal Arts, for “Let Us Descend,” Scribner, October 2023

The chosen novel, which follows a slave’s life journey, was described as “angry, beautiful, raw, visceral and heartfelt” by NPR. The jury selected the book based on its scholarly value, originality and innovation, relevance and timeliness, writing quality, contribution to Tulane’s reputation and multidisciplinary appeal.