Multiple PNW faculty and staff members earn Purdue system recognition for multimillion dollar research grants
Thirteen Purdue University Northwest (PNW) faculty and staff members are being recognized by Purdue University’s Office of Research for impactful scholarly initiatives that have earned millions of dollars in external funding.
Several PNW faculty and staff members are being recognized by Purdue University’s Office of Research for impactful scholarly initiatives that have earned millions of dollars in external funding. Those pictured include, from left to right: Armin Silaen; Ty Okosun; Debbie Blades; Keyuan Jiang; Michael Tu; Marie T. Mora; Shawn A. Taylor, Purdue University Trustee; Karen Plaut, Purdue-West Lafayette Executive Vice President for Research; Chenn Zhou; Katie Bowers; Anne Gregory; Carly Baetz; and Amanda Zelechoski.
The Purdue-West Lafayette research office’s annual Seeds for Success Acorn Awards are presented to employees’ system-wide who have earned external sponsorship of $1 million or more for a research enterprise.
The 13 PNW faculty and staff members who have earned a 2024 award are leading initiatives spanning several research areas that address community needs in Northwest Indiana, from steel decarbonization and clean energy to cyber defense.
“We are delighted and proud that Purdue University is recognizing 13 PNW faculty and staff members with the Seeds for Success Acorn Awards for their dedicated efforts and success in securing external funding to advance impactful research and scholarship,” said PNW Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Marie T. Mora. “These projects will not only enhance the reputation of our university, but their impacts will also benefit residents of Northwest Indiana, the broader region and the nation. As we continue to build our research infrastructure at PNW, these faculty and staff also serve as role models for our students and colleagues.”
We are delighted and proud that Purdue University is recognizing 13 PNW faculty and staff members with the Seeds for Success Acorn Awards for their dedicated efforts and success in securing external funding to advance impactful research and scholarship.
PNW Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Marie T. Mora
PNW faculty and staff members recognized with a 2024 Seeds for Success Acorn Award are listed below. Named PNW employees are cited by principal investigator followed by co-investigators:
Chenn Zhou, NIPSCO Distinguished Professor of Engineering Simulation and director of the PNW Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS); Ty Okosun, CIVS Research Associate Professor; Armin Silaen, CIVS Research Associate Professor; Kyle Toth, CIVS Senior Research Engineer; Nick Walla, CIVS Senior Research Engineer
Development and Demonstration of an Industrial Hydrogen-Fired Steel Reheating Furnace
$10 million – awarded by U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Amanda Zelechoski, professor of Psychology, founding director of Clinical Training; Carly Baetz, associate professor of Psychology
Northwest Indiana Identification and Management of Pediatric Experiences of Trauma and Underlying Stress (NWI IMPETUS)
$3 million – awarded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Michael Tu, professor of Computer Information Technology, director of PNW Center for Cybersecurity; Keyuan Jiang, department chair of Computer Information Technology and Graphics, professor of Computer Information Technology; Debbie Blades, director of Industrial Relations and Experiential Learning
Continue, Sustain, and Expand the NCAE-C AI-Cybersecurity Workforce Certification Based Training Program CWCT.
$2.5 million – awarded by National Security Agency
Grace Pigozzi, assistant professor of Elementary and Early Literacy (recognized alongside 30 other Purdue system-wide employees)
Purdue University Science of Reading Implementation Grant
$1.5 million – awarded by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Ty Okosun, CIVS Research Associate Professor
Scaling Hydrogen-Direct Reduced Iron Pathways to Decarbonize Iron and Steelmaking
$1.2 million – awarded by U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Anne Gregory, executive director of Concurrent Enrollment Programs and professor of Literacy; Katie Bowers, coordinator of Academics and Accreditation
Teach Dual Credit Indiana at PNW Grant Extension
$1.2 million – awarded by Indiana Commission for Higher Education
PNW is home to 20 specialized research centers. PNW scholars annually earn record totals of sponsored research and have earned $50 million in external funding over the past four years. PNW is also designated as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University for its strong evidence of collaboration with public and private sector partners to support economic development, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer talent and workforce development, and community development.
For more information about research at PNW, visit pnw.edu/research. For the full list of 2024 Seed for Success Acorn Awards, visit purdue.edu/research.