The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Research Awards, which highlight notable research activities taking place at the University of Oregon.
Early-Career Award
The Early Career Award is the UO’s highest award for early career faculty. It celebrates an emerging and significant record of scholarship and research on our campus.
Parisa Hosseinzadeh, assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering, is recognized for her contributions to peptide design at the intersection of machine learning, metalloprotein engineering, and experimental biochemistry. Peptides are the “building blocks” of proteins. Hosseinzadeh’s lab synthesizes new proteins, which can be used as biosensors and therapeutics, potentially leading to new treatments or earlier detection of cancer and other serious diseases.
A nominator wrote, “Across her program, Dr. Hosseinzadeh’s hallmark strength is the tight integration of computation and experiment. Her laboratory couples algorithm development with protein expression, biophysical characterization, and structural validation, enabling rapid design-build-test cycles that are helping transform peptide design into a more predictive and reproducible discipline.”
Mid-Career Award
The Mid-Career Award is given to tenured faculty at the associate professor rank with a track record of distinguished scholarship who are well-recognized in their field of research.
Lauren Hallett, associate professor of environmental studies and biology, is recognized for her scholarly record and its influence on how ecologists think about the time and space as drivers of community stability, biodiversity, and coexistence in an ecosystem. Hallett is recognized for bringing coexistence theory—the idea that the success of a species growing in population is dependent on such variable as environmental conditions and species interactions—to restoration ecology. Hallett is also honored for her dedication to mentoring budding researchers.
A nominator wrote, “Her projects connect ecological theory to rangeland restoration, invasive species management, soil health, and agricultural sustainability, including work in Oregon hazelnut systems and Great Basin rangelands. This is scholarship of high disciplinary significance with clear public and environmental value.”
Senior-Career Award
The Senior-Career Award is the UO’s highest award for faculty to recognize and celebrate a deep and distinguished record of scholarship and research.
Gina Biancarosa, the Ann Swindells Chair in Education and professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences, is recognized for her transformative contributions to educational measurement, literacy research, and reading assessment on a national scale. Biancarosa has successfully led the commercialization of two major literacy assessments used by millions of K–8 students.
A nominator wrote, “Over the past five years alone, she has generated over $10 million in external funding, including major grants from the Institute of Education Sciences, the Spencer Foundation, and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. These lines of research not only elevate the scientific understanding of reading development but directly shape policy and practice in schools nationwide.”
Christopher Minson, the Kenneth M. and Kenda H. Singer Endowed Professor of physiology, is recognized for his research career in the fields of environmental, exercise, thermal, and applied physiology, and the broader significance of his work in the areas of medicine and human performance. His work has advanced fundamental understanding of human cardiovascular wellness and thermoregulation (the body’s response to heat) and has turned discoveries into practical applications that improve human health, prevent disease, and improve elite athletic performance.
A nominator wrote, “Dr. Minson has moved into the entrepreneur space by developing an app to assess and promote the health benefits of nature. He has a patent pending for this technology and this work has received a wide range of interest from Outside Magazine to the White House. This effort expands the reach of his research expertise to a much larger community with implications far beyond the laboratory setting.”
Career Research Faculty Award
The Career Research Faculty Award goes to non-tenure track faculty to recognize and celebrate a substantial and impactful scholarly record on our campus or their work providing exceptional and innovative technical support to UO researchers.
Joseph Nese, research professor in the College of Education, is recognized for his accomplishments in developing and improving systems that enhance educational practices and student outcomes. Nese’s work seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice to ensure that tools and methodologies support equitable and effective learning environments for children.
A nominator wrote, “Over his nearly 17 years of research, teaching, and service to the UO community, Joe has demonstrated exemplary leadership across numerous federally funded research grants, has made a profound impact on our national scholarly community of educational researchers, has supported the development of research careers for students and junior faculty, and has consistently been a thoughtful research partner, collaborator, and joy to work with.”
Innovation and Impact Award
The Innovation and Impact Award recognizes an outstanding individual or team that distinguished themselves and the university through entrepreneurial activities that resulted in innovations with a measurable societal or environmental impact and/or individuals whose broader public engagement activity has proactively shared their research or viewpoints on research and policy issues with the public via traditional and/or new media channels.
Paul Dalton, the Bradshaw and Holzapfel Research Professor in Transformational Science and Mathematics, is recognized for pioneering work in biofabrication that is now widely adopted by laboratories around the world. He is the co-founder of biomed startup company VivoTex, which uses tiny 3D-printed microfiber scaffolds to mimic the natural matrix that supports cells in human tissue.
A nominator wrote, “Paul is the inventor of a field‑defining technology, the founder of a venture capital‑backed Oregon company, a steward of open‑source innovation, an architect of institutional intellectual property growth, and a tireless ambassador for science through public engagement. His work has brought distinction to the University of Oregon while delivering real and lasting benefit to society.”
Gerald Tindal, professor emeritus in the College of Education, and the Behavioral Research and Teaching team are recognized for the four major assessments that BRT has created—accommodating a range of learners, including those with disabilities or where English is not their first language. These tools have provided educators with access to information and data they can use quickly to improve learning for students, particularly those with the greatest need. BRT’s tools are used by millions of students throughout the country.
A nominator wrote, “Dr. Tindal and the BRT Team’s tools have transformed how U.S. educators use data to improve student learning in pre-K–12 by providing precise and timely progress-monitoring data that helps teachers tailor instruction and accelerate growth for struggling learners.”
Advancing a Flourishing Research and Innovation Community Award
This award recognizes any faculty or staff’s significant scholarly work and achievements in building a more flourishing environment across the research and innovation enterprise at the UO. The award is given to an individual or team that has demonstrated leadership, impact, and advocacy to broaden participation in research, build new partnerships with communities, and develop and implement novel programming or innovations to improve the culture of our research and innovation climate.
Nathan Jacobs and the IMPACT Team (Stacey York, Mark Blaine, and Annie Zeidman-Karpinski) at the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact are recognized for the positive impact they have on doctoral and postdoctoral scholars, particularly in preparing students through mentorship, experiential workshops, and applied trainings for making meaningful scientific impacts of their own. The team’s efforts have played a crucial role in strengthening the research ecosystem within the Knight Campus.
A nominator wrote, “Dr. Nathan Jacobs and the IMPACT Team exemplify the values of leadership, advocacy, and impact. Their contributions significantly enhance the research enterprise at the University of Oregon and contributes to a more inclusive and flourishing academic community.”