April Inside the Institute Newsletter
A Message from Rob McCarley
Executive Director, The Fralin Life Sciences Institute
I think we can all agree that it feels like a sprint to the finish line as we approach the end of the semester and commencement. April is filled with PhD defenses, conferences and review panels, capstone projects, and research celebrations (and excitement about a solar eclipse!). Just last week the Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship (FURF) program honored 15 energetic undergraduates who received a stipend to conduct research with a Virginia Tech faculty mentor over the course of an academic year.
It has also been a banner month for some of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute affiliated faculty, who have been recognized with some outstanding distinctions. Join me in congratulating:
- Silke Hauf, associate professor of biological sciences, who is one of five faculty members named to the 2024 class of Virginia Tech’s Academies of Faculty Service and Leadership; and
- Brenda Winkel and Liwu Li who are among six Virginia Tech researchers elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science Class of 2023 Fellows.
At the recent annual Celebrating Innovation event, hosted by the Virginia Tech Innovation and Partnerships and the Office of Research and Innovation, numerous researchers were celebrated for their accomplishments in innovation, entrepreneurship, and service. I was fortunate to be one of those recognized as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, but my biggest thrill was seeing some of our best and brightest being awarded for their creative and innovative achievements.
Commercialization Champion
- Bo Zhang, assistant professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Startup Builder
- Webster Santos, professor, Department of Chemistry
By Example Award
- Bahareh Behkam, associate professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Robert Gourdie, professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, and director of the Center for Vascular and Heart Health
I am constantly in awe of the unwavering dedication and drive of our students, faculty, and researchers in their pursuit of making our world a better place to live.
Let’s go Hokies, and let’s go FLSI!
