SEAS Honors and Awards
The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences recognizes faculty and staff excellence through an awards program. Recipients are nominated by fellow faculty/staff and vetted by the SEAS Faculty Awards Committee or the SEAS Staff Awards Committee.
Faculty Awards
Staff Awards
Faculty Awards
Best Teaching Faculty of the Year Award
This award is presented to teaching faculty members for outstanding educational contributions to SEAS.
2025 Recipients
2024
Amy Baird
Department: Engineering Education
Cecilia Martinez-Leon
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
2023
Lauren Kuryloski
Department: Engineering Education
Jennifer Stamm
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2022
Brad Darrall
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Matthew Hertz
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2021
Harrison Kelly*
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Jing Wang
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2020
David Courtemanche
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Aaron Estes
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2019
Sabrina Casucci
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Tamara Kofke
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
2018
Jason Armstrong
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Filip Stefanovic
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2017
Bina Ramamurthy
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Kevin Burke
Department: Electrical Engineering
2015
Carl Alphonce
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Early Career Researcher of the Year Award
This award is presented to assistant professors for outstanding research contributions to SEAS.
2025 Recipients
2024
Danial Faghihi
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Luis Herrera
Department: Electrical Engineering
2023
Winnie Chen
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Chip Ionita
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2022
Peter Liu
Department: Electrical Engineering
Mingchen Gao
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2021
Eleni Kyriakidou
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Baishakhi Mazumder
Department: Materials Design and Innovation
2020
Huamin Li
Department: Electrical Engineering
A. Erdem Sariyuce
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Minhui Zheng*
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2019
Souma Chowdhury
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Jung-Hun Seo
Department: Materials Design and Innovation
Xiu Yao
Department: Electrical Engineering
2018
Sara Behdad*
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Matthew Bolton*
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Shi Li*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2017
Lora Cavuoto
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Qing He*
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Josep Jornet*
Department: Electrical Engineering
Gang Wu
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Jun Xia
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2016
Panagiotis Ch. Anastasopoulos
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Yun Wu
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Wenyao Xu
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2015
Qiaoqiang Gan
Department: Electrical Engineering
Jing Gao*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Dimitrios Koutsonikolas*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Haiqing Lin
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Jonathan Lovell
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Early Career Teacher of the Year Award
This award is presented to assistant professors for outstanding educational contributions to SEAS.
2025 Recipients
2023
Luis Herrera
Department: Electrical Engineering
Ryan St. Pierre
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2022
Eleonora Botta
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Huamin Li
Department: Electrical Engineering
2021
Kenny Joseph
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Craig Snoeyink
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2020
Wen Dong
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Frank Lagor*
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2019
Jaroslaw Zola
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2018
Josep Jornet*
Department: Electrical Engineering
Yun Wu
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2017
John Atkinson
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Johannes Hachmann
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Oliver Kennedy
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Anthony Tessari*
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Olga Wodo
Department: Materials Design and Innovation
2016
Varun Chandola
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Jihyung Yoo*
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Lukasz Ziarek
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2015
Lora Cavuoto
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Geoffrey Challen*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Steven Y. Ko*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
David Salac
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Senior Researcher of the Year Award
2025 Recipients
This award is presented to associate or full professors for outstanding recent research contributions to SEAS.
2024
Francine Battaglia
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Peter Liu
Department: Electrical Engineering
2023
Souma Chowdhury
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Ruogang Zhao
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2022
Michael Langberg
Department: Electrical Engineering
Jun Xia
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2021
Lora Cavuoto
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Yun Wu
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2020
Chong Cheng
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Wenyao Xu
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Chi Zhou
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
2019
Jing Gao*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Tarun Singh
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Uttam Singisetti
Department: Electrical Engineering
Gang Wu
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
2018
Paul DesJardin
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Tevfik Kosar
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Jonathan Lovell
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Jun Zhuang
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
2017
Qiaoqiang Gan
Department: Electrical Engineering
Atri Rudra
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Leslie Ying
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
2016
Murat Demirbas
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Kemper Lewis
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2015
Michel Bruneau
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental
Natalia Litchinitser*
Department: Electrical Engineering
Kui Ren*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Jinhui Xu
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Sean Wu*
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Senior Teacher of the Year Award
This award is presented to associate or full professors for outstanding recent educational contributions to SEAS.
2025 Recipients
2024
Zhangyu Guan
Department: Electrical Engineering
Mostafa Nouh
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2022
Erik Einarsson
Department: Materials Design and Innovation / Electrical Engineering
Russ Miller
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2021
Mark Ehrensberger
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Oliver Kennedy
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2020
Ehsan Esfahani
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Igor Jankovic
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Nicholas Mastronarde
Department: Electrical Engineering
Atri Rudra
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2019
Matthew Ringuette
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Jun Zhuang
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Jennifer L. Zirnheld
Department: Electrical Engineering
2018
Tevfik Kosar
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
David Salac
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Weifeng Su
Department: Electrical Engineering
2017
Xin He*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Dimitrios Koutsonikolas*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Kwang W. Oh
Department: Electrical Engineering
Tarun Singh
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2016
Edward P. Furlani*
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Bharat Jayaraman*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Shambhu Upadhyaya
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2015
Victor Paquet
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Marina Tsianou
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
SEAS for JEDI Faculty Award
Introduced in 2021, this award recognizes faculty members who are outstanding advocates for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in SEAS.
2024 Recipients
2023
Sabrina Casucci
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Jing Wang
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2022
Jennifer L. Zirnheld
Department: Electrical Engineering
Marina Tsianou
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
2021
Marina Blanton
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Kristen Moore
Department: Engineering Education
SEAS Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentorship
Celebrates both what the mentor does and how they do it.
2025 Recipients
SEAS Graduate Mentor of the Year Award
Recognizes contributions to student progress and success.
2025 Recipients
SEAS Undergraduate Mentor of the Year Award
Recognizes contributions to student progress and success.
2025 Recipients
Staff Awards
Outstanding Leadership Award
(Formerly the Cause for Applause Award)
Staff member who exemplifies achievements related to SEAS activities over and above assigned responsibilities.
2025 Recipients
2024
Erin Macdiarmid
Department: SEAS Office of Academic Affairs
Jason Tillman
Department: Electrical Engineering
Kaitlin Williams-Heim
Department: SEAS Dean's Office
2023
Tooba Khilji
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Kaeleigh Peri
Department: SEAS Office of Academic Affairs
2022
Jennifer Giegel
Department: Engineering Education
2021
Katharine Bartelo
Department: Electrical Engineering
Jackie Baum
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental
Michelle Neumaier
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2020
Jennifer Gammell*
Department: SEAS Graduate Education
Stephen Hart
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2019
Holly Evert
Department: SEAS Communications
Simon Peng*
Department: SEAS Engineering Machine Shop
2018
Sarah D'Iorio
Department: SEAS Communications
2017
Todd Nibbe*
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Jason Tillman
Department: Electrical Engineering
Dean's Award for Staff Excellence
(Formerly the Dean's Award for Excellence in Service)
Staff member whose extraordinary service contributions have significantly enriched their SEAS department with exceptional achievements and superior performance. Nominations may be made for academic support staff and/or administrative support staff.
2025 Recipients
2024
Kate Doran
SEAS Office of Academic Affairs
2023
Lisa Stephens*
Department: SEAS Online Education
2022
Ken English
Department: SEAS Online Education
2021
Christian Miller
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2020
Joan Wilson
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
2019
Bin Chen*
Department: Electrical Engineering
2018
Cheryl Michalowski
Department: Biomedical Engineering
2017
Kerry Collins-Gross*
Department: SEAS Undergraduate Education
Kim Kriz
Department: Electrical Engineering
Jane Stoyle Welch*
Department: SEAS Communications
Award for Excellence in Student Support
(Formerly the Outstanding Customer Service Award)
Staff member who provides exemplary service to SEAS faculty, staff, students, and other constituents within/outside of their department. Providing top quality service to internal and external customers while treating them respectfully, cordially, effectively and efficiently.
2025 Recipients
2024
Philomena Marinaccio
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Megan Stewart
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Ona Strang
Department: Office of Student Affairs
2023
Lynn Noel
Undergraduate Student Support
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
David Fonzi
Undergraduate Student Support
Department: SEAS Machine Shop
Brandon Moraca
Undergraduate Student Support
Department: SEAS Machine Shop
Caitlin Hoekstra
Graduate Student Support
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
Ann Mangan
Graduate Student Support
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2022
Chris Majchrzak
Department: Science and Engineering Node Services
Jane Sinclair
Department: SEAS Undergraduate Education
2021
Joelle Donius
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Maria-Rose Frisina
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Jason Tillman
Department: Electrical Engineering
2020
Erin MacDiarmid
Department: SEAS Undergraduate Education
Peter Murphy
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Marlo Roetzer
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
2019
Jennifer Wojcik
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2018
Rosemary Lombardo
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2017
Katharine Bartelo
Department: Electrical Engineering
Deanie Hedrick
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Eva McGovern
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Diane Vannatter*
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Rising Star Award
Staff member who demonstrates quality performance that indicates continuous development into an exemplary employee. The employee shows passion for their work while demonstrating professionalism and dedication to the mission of their SEAS department.
2025 Recipients
2024
Alyssa Crofts
SEAS Office of Academic Affairs
Hannah Mangan
Computer Science and Engineering
Carly Pinter
SEAS Communications
Lei Shao
Industrial and Systems Engineering
2023
Brett Davis
Department: SEAS Research Advancement
Allison Suflita
Department: Office of Academic Affairs
2022
Maria Putzke
Department: SEAS Dean's Office
Ema Scollo
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
2021
Baylee Snodgrass
Department: SEAS Undergraduate Education
Meredith Volker*
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Susan Ye
Department: SEAS Dean's Office
2020
Marcus Miller
Department: Science and Engineering Node Services
Kaeleigh Peri
Department: SEAS Graduate Education
Tom Yearke
Department: Science and Engineering Node Services
2019
Tooba Khilji
Department: Industrial and Systems Engineering
2018
Jackie Baum
Department: Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
Chelsea Montrois*
Department: SEAS Student Affairs and Accreditation
2017
Kate Doran
Department: SEAS Undergraduate Education
Brittany Sandor*
Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
SEAS for JEDI Staff Award
Introduced in 2021, this award recognizes staff members who are outstanding advocates for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in SEAS.
2025 Recipients
2024
Amanda Barbour
SEAS Dean's Office
Maria Putzke
SEAS Dean's Office
2023
Shannon Phillips
Department: SEAS Dean's Office
2022
Christopher Connor*
Department: SEAS Graduate Education
2021
Kate Doran
Department: SEAS Undergraduate Education
SEAS Award for Excellence in Staff Mentorship
Celebrates both what the mentor does and how they do it.
2025 Recipients
Unsung Hero Award
This award is presented to a staff member(s) who contributes significantly to a SEAS department, but whose role and support for the department may not be as visible as some others.
2022 Recipients
2021
Mary Busch
Department: Electrical Engineering
Dave Yearke
Department: SEAS Dean's Office
2020
Andrew Schultz
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering/SEAS Undergraduate Education
Ed Sobczak
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2019
Ken Smith
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
2018
Linda Jean Krupski*
Department: Science and Engineering Node Services
Scot Weinreber
Department: Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory
2017
Terri Nusstein*
Department: SEAS Dean's Office
* Denotes former UB SEAS faculty/staff member.