UB and SUNY Awards

University at Buffalo Awards

Each year, UB recognizes the academic excellence of highly accomplished faculty members.

UB Distinguished Professor

The Office of the Provost created the rank of UB Distinguished Professor to honor full professors who have achieved national or international recognition as experts in their fields of study. UB Distinguished Professors are members of the faculty who have been full professors for a minimum of five years with a demonstrated record of excellence in artistic or scholarly contributions.

Hui Meng, 2018

UB Teaching Innovation

Established to honor exceptional educational pedagogy, UB’s Award for Teaching Innovation was created in 2003 to recognize faculty who have contributed significantly to engaging students with new methods and approaches to teaching. The award recognizes faculty members whose innovative teaching methods have a demonstrable effect on enhancing student learning-outcomes.

Aaron Estes, 2020
Jason Armstrong, 2019

UB Exceptional Scholar Award (Young Investigator)

Introduced in 2002, the University at Buffalo’s Exceptional Scholar Award for Young Investigators celebrates a recent superior achievement of a scholar in his/her field of study. Such an achievement will have distinguished the recipient as an up-and-coming scholar, as well as earned the individual acclaim for his/her work, which could be a published work or other scholastic or artistic endeavor.

Minghui Zheng, 2023
Mostafa Nouh, 2020
James Chen, 2019

UB Exceptional Scholar Award (Sustained Achievement)

The Exceptional Scholar Award for Sustained Achievement was created by the University at Buffalo in 2002 to honor outstanding professional achievement that has been focused on a particular body of work over a number of years. This award was created to recognize an unprecedented accomplishment in a senior scholar's career, distinguishing a body of work of enduring importance that has gone beyond the norm in a particular field of study.

Shenqiang Ren, 2022
Tarun Singh, 2020
Paul DesJardin, 2019
Kemper Lewis, 2017
Susan Hua, 2015
Hui Meng, 2011

President Emeritus and Mrs. Meyerson Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring

The Meyerson award honors faculty members for the crucial guidance and support they provide undergraduate students to help them develop the necessary skills for research, creativity, critical thinking and innovation. It was established through a generous gift by the late President Emeritus Martin Meyerson, who served as UB’s 10th president, and his wife, Margy Ellen, to recognize exceptional teaching and mentoring at the university.

Eleonora Botta, 2024
Mostafa Nouh, 2023

Distinguished Postdoc Mentor Award

The Distinguished Postdoc Mentor Award is awarded on an annual basis to faculty members who excel in the mentoring of postdoctoral scholars. 

Francine Battaglia, 2024

Outstanding Contributions to International Education Award

This is a university-wide award to honor faculty and staff who have made exceptional and longstanding contributions to international education at UB.

Tarun Singh, 2022

Academic Integrity Awards (Faculty-Staff Distinction)

Each spring semester, in conjunction with National Honesty Day on April 30, the Office of Academic Integrity recognizes individuals or groups who have gone above and beyond their duty to promote and enhance a culture of integrity at UB.

David Salac, 2022-2023

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences 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. 

Best Teaching Faculty of the Year Award

Presented to teaching faculty member(s) whose recent teaching performance, initiatives, publications and/or presentations demonstrate outstanding contributions to education within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 

Brad Darrall, 2022
Aaron Estes, 2019
Jason Armstrong, 2018

Early Career Researcher of the Year Award

Presented to early career faculty member(s) whose recent research at UB demonstrates relevance and importance to the overall mission of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Minghui Zheng, 2020
Souma Chowdhury, 2019

Early Career Teacher of the Year Award

Presented to an early career faculty member(s) whose recent teaching performance, initiatives, publications and/or presentations demonstrate outstanding contributions to education within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Eleonora Botta, 2022
Craig Snoeyink, 2021
Frank Lagor, 2020
Mostafa Nouh, 2018
Jihyung Yoo, 2016
David Salac, 2015

Senior Researcher of the Year Award

Presented to senior faculty member(s) whose recent research demonstrates relevance and importance to the overall mission of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Tarun Singh, 2019
Paul DesJardin, 2018
Kemper Lewis, 2016

Senior Teacher of the Year Award

Presented to senior faculty member(s) whose recent teaching performance, initiatives, publications and/or presentations demonstrate outstanding contributions to education within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Ehsan Esfahani, 2020
Matthew Ringuette, 2019
David Salac, 2018
Tarun Singh, 2017

Cause for Applause Award

Presented to a staff member who exemplifies achievements related to SEAS activities over and above assigned responsibilities.

Stephen Hart, 2020
Simon Peng, 2019

Outstanding Customer Service Award

Presented to a 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.

Rosemary Lombardo, 2018

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Awards

MAE Vanderhoef Faculty Award

Presented to a faculty member in the MAE department who makes the extra effort to coach, mentor and provide support for students.

Jennifer Stamm, 2022
Bradley Darrall, 2021
Matt Burge, 2020
Aaron Estes, 2019
Jason Armstrong, 2018

State University of New York Awards

Our faculty and professional staff members have been recognized as the best in the State University of New York system. They are recognized for making outstanding contributions to their respective professional fields, campuses, communities and the public at large. 

SUNY Distinguished Professor

Distinguished Professors demonstrate groundbreaking scholarship, exceptional instruction and breadth and significance of service contributions. Appointment constitutes a promotion to the State University’s highest academic rank, and it is conferred solely by the State University Board of Trustees.

John Crassidis, 2020

SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor

Distinguished Professors demonstrate groundbreaking scholarship, exceptional instruction and breadth and significance of service contributions. Appointment constitutes a promotion to the State University’s highest academic rank, and it is conferred solely by the State University Board of Trustees.

Joseph Mollendorf, 2016

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

The Chancellor's Awards for Excellence are SUNY-level honors conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. These programs underscore SUNY’s commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good. 

Hui Meng, 2016
Deborah Chung, 2003

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Chancellor's Awards for Excellence are SUNY-level honors conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence. These programs underscore SUNY’s commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good. 

Gary Dargush, 2014
Paul DesJardin, 2009
Joseph Mook, 2004
Cyrus Madnia, 2002
Kemper Lewis, 2001