The Daily Campus

Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Josh LITWIN Professor John Salamone, pictured standing in his office, was one of three UConn professors honored by the Board of Trustees. He is the chair of the interdisciplinary program in neuroscience.

Three UConn professors were recently named distinguished professors by the Board of Trustees. Michael Neumann, a professor and head of the Mathematics Department, John Salamone, a professor in the psychology department and Sandra Weller, professor and chair of molecular, microbial and structural biology at the UConn Health Center, were awarded this highest academic honor.

Neumann's work focuses on theoretical and applied linear algebra and matrix analysis, according to the UConn Advance. He helped found the Q Center, which provides tutoring to math students. He has worked on collaborative projects between the Neag School of Education and the mathematics department. Neumann has also won the Provost's Research Excellence Award for the 2004-2005 academic year and has worked at UConn since 1985.

"[UConn] is a very understanding place, and has given me the opportunity to build a career," Neumann said.

Salamone is in charge of the behavioral neuroscience graduate training program in the psychology department, as well chair of the interdisciplinary program in neuroscience. He is also an expert in psychopharmacology, which focuses on the chemistry of the nervous system and the behavioral effects of drugs in conditions such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Salamone, who has also received teaching awards from the Student Athletic Association and the Alumni Association, has worked at UConn since 1988.

Salamone said he was very excited about the award.

"I was a little surprised, because I knew I had been nominated but I didn't know when I would find out," Salamone said.

Salamone enjoys the fact that the environment at UConn allows him to combine many activities, such as research and teaching undergraduates and graduate students.

"It enables me to incorporate students into my research," Salamone said.

Weller serves on the Faculty Review Board, the Medical Council and the School of Medicine Oversight Committee, and the ESCRO committee, which focuses on the ethics of stem cell research. Her research focuses on the herpes simplex virus and the different aspects of the virus. She has also won the Method of Extend Research in Time award, given by the National Institutes of Health.



Weller said it felt great0 to win the award.



"It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by your colleagues," she said.



Weller enjoys working with graduate students in her work at UConn. "I am a firm believer in mentoring," said Weller.



The Distinguished Professor award requires that the professor has spent most of their teaching career at UConn and is a full-time professor, according to the criteria for the award on the Provost's Web site. Nominated professors also have to "be strong in all three areas of research, teaching and service," according to the Web site. The professors are nominated by colleagues for the award.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools