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Institute achievements honored at annual awards ceremony
By Ian Thomas
Alicia Moore, center, smiles proudly as she receives her Individual Merit Award from Birnbaum, right. NTP Associate Director John Bucher, Ph.D., left, joined Moore and Birnbaum on stage. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Huei-Chen Lao, left, received her Unsung Hero Award. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
During refreshments and music in the cafeteria, two generations of service to NIEHS came together as Division Group Merit Award winner David Goulding, left, enjoyed a congratulatory hug from his mother Gina, a veteran biologist in a Division of Intramural Research lab. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Shown left to right, Moore joined colleagues Darlene Dixon, D.V.M., Ph.D., Moore’s mother, and Moore’s sister for cake and ice cream. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
Cross-divisional Group Merit Award winners Ashley Godfrey, Ph.D., left, and Darshini Trivedi, Ph.D., were among the record number of trainees honored this year. Trivedi was also honored for her FARE award. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
NIEHS staff from across the institute gathered in Rodbell Auditorium Feb. 13 for the annual awards ceremony. Hosted by NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., the awards honor outstanding achievement, throughout the year, on the part of Institute staff.
Gwen Collman, Ph.D., director of the Division of Extramural Research and Training, served as the lead emcee for the event.
“Every year, our staff and scientists make incredible strides toward the advancement of environmental health research, and 2012 was no different,” said Birnbaum, who presented certificates to each of the awardees. “We have a lot to be proud of.”
NIEHS Associate Director for Management and event co-emcee Joellen Austin agreed.
“These nominations and awards serve as yet another reminder of the outstanding science and support that our Institute carries out every day,” said Austin, who praised the work of her OM colleagues for their commitment to the event’s success.
Collman and Austin used humor to point out some far-fetched comparisons between the NIEHS Awards ceremony and others being hosted in February, including The Grammys, Golden Globes, and Oscars.
NIEHS Award Winners
2012 NIH Director's Award
Group Award: Partnerships for Environmental Public Health Program — Lynn Albert, Beth Anderson, Maureen Avakian, John Balbus, Sharon Beard, Justin Crane, Helena Davis, Caroline Dilworth, Christina Drew, Sally Eckert-Tilotta, Symma Finn, Kimberly Gray, Heather Henry, Chip Hughes, Michael Humble, Cindy Lawler, Liam O’Fallon, Kristianna Pettibone, Jerry Phelps, Molly Puente, Claudia Thompson
Individual Award: Molecular Mechanism of Learning and Memory — Serena Dudek
Unsung Hero Awards — Angela Sanders, Huei-Chen Lao, Laura Miller-DeGraff, John Petranka, Rachel Frawley
Peer Awards — Allison Eason, Jennifer Evans, Dee Lunney, Tameka Thomas
Individual Merit Awards – Kimberly Gray, Jerrold Heindel, Bill Suk, Grace Kissling, Jef French, Dori Germolec, Alicia Moore
Division Group Merit Awards
Office of Management — William Fitzgerald, William Hawkins, John McLamb, Christopher Parker, Terrance Saulter, Meagan Tozer, Mitch Williams
Division of Extramural Research and Training — Sharon Beard, Liam O’Fallon, Molly Puente, Elizabeth Ruben, Leroy Worth
Division of Intramural Research – James Clark, David Goulding, Sandra Hackney, Cathy Oakley, Page Myers
Division of the National Toxicology Program — Sachin Bhusari, Janice Harvey, Hue-Hua Hong, Arun Pandiri, Thai Vu Ton
Cross-divisional Group Merit Awards
For improvements on NIEHS research facilities: Gary Bird, Debra Del Corral, Vickie Englebright, Clyde Hasty, Paul Johnson, Scott Merkle, Paul Poliachik, Nancy Powell, Michael Spencer, Amanda Thompson, Carmen Williams
For research addressing the health impacts of engineered nanomaterials: David Balshaw, Sally Eckert-Tilotta, Lisa Edwards, Stavros Garantziotis, Barbara Gittleman, Srikanth Nadadur, Patrick Mastin, Thaddeus Schug, Sally Tinkle, Michelle Victalino, Nigel Walker, Christopher Weis
For volunteer efforts with Citizen Schools — Spring 2012: Mercedes Arana, Nisha Cavanaugh, Sharon Beard, April Binder, Elena Braithwaithe, John Ciencewicki, Shay Covo, Bret Freudenthal, Tim Gingerich, Ashley Godfrey, Michelle Heacock, Ed Kang, Kristin Lichti-Kaiser
Group Awards for Cross-NIH Efforts
Brain Disorders (FIC): Annette Kirshner
National Database for Autism Research Team (NIMH): Cindy Lawler
NIH Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Team (NINDS): Cindy Lawler
NCRR/NCATS/ORIP Reorganization (OM): Pat Mastin
NCRR/NCATS/ORIP Reorganization (OD): Elizabeth McNair
Common Fund Metabolomics Leadership Team (OD): David Balshaw
2012 NIH Office of the Director Awards
2011 Feds Feed Families: Monya Wells, Annette Rice
Appropriations Law Training and Leadership Group: Antoinette Bridges, Charles Conrad, Cynthia Radford
NIH Biospectrum Working Group: Elizabeth Denholm
NIH Clinical Research Protocol Application Taskforce: Jane Lambert
Research Performance Progress Report Group: Molly Puente
RPC Scientific Review Office Technical Competencies Team: Janice Allen
Team for Implementing the Animal Care and Use Guide at NIH: John Roberts
2012 Fellows’ Award for Research Excellence (FARE) Awardees
Kim Chan, Georgette Charles, Tracy Clement, Jaqueline de Marchena, Swati Ghosh, Zhenglin Gu, Brent Hamel, Bonnie Joubert, , Fumin Lin, Julie Lowe, Steven Roberts, Maria Shatz, Lindsay Smith, Dan Su, Darshini Trivedi, Kristen Verhein, Staton Wade, Qinghsan Wang, Xiaofeng Zheng
Following the awards ceremony, award winners and colleagues enjoyed refreshments and music by the NIEHS Band in the cafeteria.
(Ian Thomas is a public affairs specialist with the NIEHS Office of Communications and Public Liaison, and a regular contributor to the Environmental Factor.)
NIEHS recognized service to the Citizen Schools Program at nearby Lowes Grove Elementary School. The group included fellows, scientists, and staff volunteers who made the first year of the program a resounding success. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
FARE winners receive $1,000 to use for professional development. In addition to their recognition at the annual NIH Research Fair last fall, the fellows were also honored at home. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)
