Award Winners

  • BRUCE ALBERTS, PhD

    Gold Key Award

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  • GE Wang, PhD

    Walston Chubb Award for Innovation

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  • GREESHMA GADIKOTA, PhD

    Young Investigator Award

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  • RENA BIZIOS, PhD

    William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement

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  • Wendy Zukerman

    Honorary Membership Award

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  • CHAD A. MIRKIN, PhD

    John P. McGovern Science and Society Award

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  • Kelly Crowe, PhD

    Linda H. Mantel Next Generation Women’s Leadership Award

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  • SUBRATA SAHA , PhD

    Evan Ferguson Award for Service to the Society

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BRUCE ALBERTS, PhD

University of California, San Francisco

GOLD KEY AWARD

For extraordinary contributions to his profession and for fostering critical innovations to enhance the health of the research enterprise, to cultivate integrity in research, and to promote the public understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition.

Biography

A prominent biochemist with a strong commitment to the improvement of science and mathematics education, Dr. Alberts currently serves as the Chancellor’s Leadership Chair in Biochemistry and Biophysics for Science and Education at the University of California, San Francisco, to which he returned after serving two six-year terms as the president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). He has earned many honors and awards, including the National Medal of Science, given to him by President Barack Obama in 2014, after serving as one of the former President’s first three United States Science Envoys, assigned to Indonesia (2009-2011).

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Widely acclaimed for his work in the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry, Dr. Alberts is also recognized for his co-authoring since 1983 of The Molecular Biology of the Cell, now in its 7th edition and still a preeminent, widely used textbook. His accomplished research career has long been matched by a passionate commitment to revolutionizing STEM education and the public understanding of science. During his tenure at the NAS, he was instrumental in developing the landmark National Science Education Standards that strongly stressed inquiry- based science teaching, affecting school systems nationwide.

Committed in his international work to the promotion of the “creativity, openness and tolerance that are inherent to science,” Alberts believes that “scientists all around the world must now band together to help create more rational, scientifically-based societies that find dogmatism intolerable.”

Dr. Alberts received his PhD in Biophysics in 1965 from Harvard University, where he also completed his undergraduate studies with summa cum laude distinction in 1960. He has been a member of Sigma Xi since 1960.

The symbolism of the Gold Key Award pays homage to the early days of Sigma Xi (late 1800s to early 1900s), when induction into the Society was often accompanied by the presentation of a small gold key. The key was routinely attached as a charm to a bracelet or chain that held a pocket watch, which was the style of the day, and represented pride in the science or engineering accomplishments of the holder. Previous recipients of the award include Shirley M. Malcom, Walter E. Massey, Gordon E. Moore, and Norman R. Augustine.

GE WANG, PhD

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

WALSTON CHUBB AWARD FOR INNOVATION

For his pioneering contributions to medical imaging, which have generated major impacts on research, development, and healthcare, including his cone-beam CT method and AI-based imaging leadership.

Biography

Ge Wang is Clark & Crossan Chair Professor and Director of Biomedical Imaging Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA. He pioneered the spiral/helical cone-beam method in the early 1990s and wrote many follow-up papers in this area. There are ~200 million medical CT scans yearly, a majority of which are performed in the spiral cone-beam mode.

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He published the first perspective on AI-empowered tomographic imaging in 2016, and a series of papers on diverse deep learning-based imaging topics. He wrote 550+ journal articles in PNAS, Nature, Nature Machine Intelligence, Nature Communications, and other well-known journals. He gave many seminars, keynotes and plenaries including NIH AI Imaging Presentations (2018) and SPIE O+P Plenary (2021). He is Fellow of IEEE, SPIE, AAPM, OSA, AIMBE, AAAS, and National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He received various awards including IEEE EMBS Academic Career Achievement Award (2021), IEEE R1 Outstanding Teaching Award (2021), SPIE Aden & Marjorie Meinel Technology Achievement Award (2022), and Sigma Xi Walston Chubb Award for Innovation (2022).

Greeshma Gadikota, PhD

Cornell University

YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD

For her outstanding contributions in advancing the science of carbon dioxide reactivity for developing innovative technologies for sustainable energy, resource recovery, and carbon sequestration.

Biography

Dr. Gadikota directs the Sustainable Energy and Resource Recovery Group with an emphasis on advancing decarbonization solutions. Her PhD in Chemical Engineering and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering and Operations Research are from Columbia University. Her BS in Chemical Engineering is from Michigan State University. She held postdoctoral research associate appointments at Princeton and Columbia, and a research associate appointment at NIST.

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She is a recipient of the DOE, NSF, and ARO CAREER Awards, Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award, AICHE Sabic Award for Young Professionals from the Particle Technology Forum, Minerals Young Investigator Award, Cornell Engineering Research Excellence Award, Inaugural Cornell Rising Women Innovator Award, an invited participant in the NAE Frontiers of Engineering, and invited speaker at the NAE German-American Frontiers of Engineering Symposium.

Rena Bizios, PhD

University of Texas at San Antonio

WILLIAM PROCTOR PRIZE FOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVMENT

For being a true leader and visionary of modern materials, biomedical and chemical sciences, and engineering.

Biography

Dr. Rena Bizios, a chemical/biomedical engineer by training, has pursued a career in academia. She is now the Lutcher Brown Endowed Chair Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio, in San Antonio, TX.

Professor Bizios has taught various undergraduate and graduate fundamental engineering and biomedical engineering courses as well as developed new courses for biomedical engineering curricula.

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Her research interests include cellular and tissue engineering, tissue regeneration, biomaterials (including nanostructured ones) and biocompatibility. She has co-authored a textbook (entitled An Introduction to Tissue-Biomaterial Interactions), co-edited a book (Biological Interactions on Material Surfaces: Understanding and Controlling Protein, Cell and Tissue Responses), authored/co-authored scientific publications and book chapters, and is co-inventor of several patents/disclosures. She has given numerous presentations at scientific conferences and invited seminars/lectures in academic institutions and industry. She has also organized and/or co-chaired numerous symposia and sessions at regional, national, and international conferences. Professor Bizios is a member, and has been an active participant (including elected officer positions) in several professional societies. She is a member of the Editorial Board of five scientific/engineering journals. Professor Bizios has participated in various national-level review committees and has served on numerous departmental, School/College of Engineering and Institute/University committees.

To date, Professor Bizios’ contributions to research and education-related accomplishments have been recognized by the following: Rensselaer Alumni Association Teaching Award; Clemson Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Literature from the Society for Biomaterials; Distinguished Scientist Award from the Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology; Women’s Initiatives Mentorship Excellence Award from The American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Founders Award from the Society for Biomaterials; Theo C. Pilkington Outstanding Educator Award from the Biomedical Engineering Division, American Society for Engineering Education; election as Charter Member of the Academy of Distinguished Researchers, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA); Amber Award from the UTSA Ambassadors; Excellence in STEM Education Award from the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering; Excellence in Biomaterials Science Award from the Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation; and the Award for Innovation in Healthcare and Bioscience from the BioMed SA, San Antonio, TX.

Professor Bizios is Fellow of five professional societies, specifically, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering (IUSBES), Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She is also member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST), International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE), Academy of Athens, Greece, National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and of the National Academy of Engineering.

Wendy Zukerman

Host, Executive Producer, "Science Vs"

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP AWARD

For presenting research results by speaking to scientists directly and taking on controversial topics directly through her podcast, Science Vs.

Biography

Wendy is an award-winning science journalist and podcaster. With her degree in Biomedical Science / Law (Hons) she’s reported on everything from gun control to octopus intelligence. Wendy started her career at New Scientist Magazine and went to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she created the podcast Science Vs.

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In 2015, Wendy moved to New York to make Science Vs for Gimlet Media – where the show debuted at #1 in the US, Canada and Australia. Science Vs is now one of the top science podcasts in the world: featured in the The New York Times, LA Times, The Atlantic, and BBC. It won the 2020 AAAS Kavli Gold Prize for their Coronavirus reporting.

Subrata Saha, PhD

University of Washington

EVAN FERGUSON AWARD FOR SERVICE TO THE SOCIETY

For outstanding service to Sigma Xi and its mission

Biography

Dr. Subrata Saha is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He is a Distinguished Adjunct Professor at Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India. He was a faculty member at Yale University, LSU Medical Center, Loma Linda University, Clemson University, Alfred University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

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He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants and the Editor-in-Chief of Ethics in Biology, Engineering and Medicine, An International Journal. He founded the Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference in 1982 and organized the 1st, 5th, 10th, and 22nd conferences in 1982, 1986, 1998, and 2003 respectively. Dr. Saha founded the International Conference on Ethical Issues in Biomedical Engineering in 1997 at Clemson University and has organized all ten previous meetings. He has published 151 papers in journals, 47 book chapters and edited volumes, 398 papers in conference proceedings, and 191 abstracts.

Dr. Sata is the recipient of many distinguished awards for his contributions to science. He is a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the New York Academy of Medicine, and Sigma Xi. He’s an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Dentists and an Honorary Member of the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering. He is presently the President of the Sigma Xi Chapter of the University of Washington. Dr. Saha is the Conference Chair of the 11th International Conference on Ethics in Biology, Engineering, and Medicine, to be held in Seattle, April 25-28, 2023.

Chad A. Mirkin, PhD

Northwestern University

JOHN P. MCGOVERN SCIENCE & SOCIETY AWARD

For his pioneering contributions to nanochemistry that have led to inventions that benefit society and monumental efforts in entrepreneurship, education, public understanding, and national service/public policy.

Biography

Dr. Chad A. Mirkin is the Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology and the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Medicine at Northwestern University. He is a chemist and a world-renowned nanoscience expert, who is known for his discovery and development of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) and SNA-based biodetection and therapeutic schemes and Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) and related cantilever-free nanopatterning and materials discovery methodologies, and contributions to supramolecular chemistry and nanoparticle synthesis.

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Mirkin received his B.S. degree from Dickinson College (1986) and a Ph.D. degree from the Penn State University (1989). He was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the MIT prior to becoming a professor at Northwestern University in 1991. He has authored over 840 manuscripts and over 1,200 patent applications worldwide (over 400 issued) and founded multiple companies. Mirkin has been recognized with over 230 national and international awards, including the Kabiller Prize in Nanoscience and Nanomedicine, the SCI Perkin Medal, the Wilhelm Exner Medal, the Dan David Prize, and the National Academy of Sciences Sackler Prize in Convergence Research. He served for eight years on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology, and he is one of very few scientists to be elected to all three US National Academies. Mirkin has served on the Editorial Advisory Boards of over 30 scholarly journals, and he is the founding editor of the journal Small. He was an Associate Editor of J. Am. Chem. Soc. and is a Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Editorial Board Member. He has given over 870 invited lectures and educated over 300 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, of whom over 120 are now faculty members at top institutions around the world.

Kelly Crowe, PhD

Xavier University

LINDA H. MANTEL NEXT GENERATION WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AWARD

For exemplified service, generosity, and leadership by an early-career woman scientist, in the legacy of Dr. Linda H. Mantel.

Biography

Dr. Kelly Crowe is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH and a member of the scientific advisory committee for the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation. She holds a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from The Ohio State University as well as an MS in Biology from Missouri State University and a BA in Biology and Psychology from Drury University.

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Dr. Crowe is the Associate Director of North Central Region of Sigma Xi and President of the University of Cincinnati chapter. Her current research focuses on understanding physiological processes underlying genetic muscle diseases and exploring strategies to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy in astronauts during spaceflight.