Swanson School Faculty and Graduate Students Recognized at Annual Convocation

Faculty and graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering were recently honored at both the Graduate and Professional Student Honors Convocation and Faculty Honors Convocation. 

Faculty Honors Convocation 

The Faculty Honors Convocation pays tribute to the outstanding achievements of Pitt faculty members that exemplify the quality of academic life at the University. This year’s ceremony also had the installation of Joan Gabel as the 19th chancellor of Pitt, marking a new era of achievements and leadership. 

Distinguished Faculty and Endowed Chair Honoree 

Prashant Kumta

Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering 

Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award 

Christopher Wilmer

Associate Professor and William Kepler Whiteford Faculty Fellow of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering 

Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award 

Taryn Bayles

 Vice Chair for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering 

John Whitefoot

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science  

Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring 

Giannis (Yanni) Mpourmapakis

Associate Professor and Bicentennial Alumni Faculty fellow of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Provost’s Diversity in the Curriculum Award 

Kurt E. Beschorner

Associate Professor of Bioengineering and Associate Chair of Graduate Student Professional Development 

Prestigious International, National, and Notable Awards

Amir Alavi
National Science Foundation: Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

Mostafa M. Bedewy
National Science Foundation: Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

Tracy Cui
National Academy of Inventors: NAI Fellow

Peyman Givi
Combustion Institute: Fellow of The Combustion Institute

Prashant N. Kumta
National Academy of Inventors: NAI Fellow

Xiayun Zhao
National Science Foundation: Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

Graduate and Professional Student Honors Convocation 

The Graduate and Professional Student Honors Convocation celebrates the achievements of graduate and professional students who have distinguished themselves through research, service, and leadership. 

Usamma Amjad
ARCS Scholar Award and National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program

Rodrigo Aruaz Sosa
Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Durwash Badr
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Anna Bailes
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Josep-Maria Balaguer Serra
Wings for Life Grant

Victoria Valentina Beltran
Elizabeth U. Baranger Predoctoral Fellowship

Matthew Borrelli
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Nathan William Brantly
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Christopher Cover
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Paul Cox
University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP) Graduate Fellowship

Morgan Egnot
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Alireza Enshaeian
The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) Fellowship

Lily Farmerie
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program

Jazlyn Gallego
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Camila Garcia
ARCS Scholar Award

Emma Gibbs
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship Program

Abigail Gondringer
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Marcela Gonzalez-Rubio
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Anne Gormaley
ARCS Scholar Award and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Sarah Griffin
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Pete Gueldner
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Isabelle Heintz
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship Program

Emani Hunter
ARCS Scholar Award

Michelle Karabin
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Katherine Kerr
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Shannon Lamb
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Vincent Lee
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Annabelle Lint
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Jennifer Mak
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Ande Marini
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Shane McKeon    
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Tiffany Moreno
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship Program

Temitope Obisesan
Magee Women's Research Institute Fellowship

Kaylen Ocampo
GEM Ph.D. Engineering and Science Fellowship

Lee Ohayon
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Amanda Pellegrino
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Adiya Rakymzhan
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Brittany Rodriguez
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Andrea Sajewski
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Rebecca Segel
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Nathalia Silva de Souza Lima
Fulbright Scholarship

Isaiah Spencer-Williams    
Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship

William Spirnock
University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP) Graduate Fellowship

Kevin Stieger
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Seth Strayer
NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship

Sara Trbojevic    
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Barbaro Zulueta    
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program