Two faculty and two staff members with roles in the Office of the Vice President for Research recently received awards recognizing their extraordinary contributions to the University of Iowa.
“These four individuals have shown exemplary dedication and innovation,” said Lois Geist, interim vice president for research. “These awards are a testament to their unwavering commitment to enhancing the service provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research, and in turn, the research excellence of the university as a whole.”
Michele Lyn Countryman, director of the UI Human Research Protection Program and Institutional Review Board, received the Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award. This award recognizes staff members in conjunction with colleagues from Iowa’s other state institutions. Their accomplishments have significantly benefited the university, brought honor or recognition to the university, and had a positive impact on the state of Iowa.
Countryman has more than two decades of experience in human subjects research administration. Since 2016, she has led the Human Research Protection Program in achieving five successful reaccreditations with the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs. Through her collaborative with local organizations and health care providers, Countryman has helped bridge the gap between academic research and community needs that extends through Iowa City and the state of Iowa.
Brooke McKeon, institutional review board application analyst in the Human Subjects Research Office, received the David J. Skorton Award for Staff Excellence in Service. This award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions and have shown exceptional imagination and dedication to improving the university community. Service must include activities of high quality in staff governance, committee work, policy improvement, program creation, etc., and must be outside normal job duties.
Throughout her eight years working in the office, McKeon has led operational improvements, created comprehensive manuals, and trained numerous employees. McKeon co-founded the Pre-Health Medical Conference and served as president of the Pre-Occupational Therapy Club, significantly contributing to student and community engagement.
Tori Forbes, professor in the Department of Chemistry and director of the UI Materials Analysis, Testing, and Fabrication (MATFab) facility, received the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence.
The Iowa Board of Regents has selected six outstanding University of Iowa faculty members to be honored for their extraordinary contributions and sustained record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Each recipient of the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence receives a $1,500 stipend. Awardees were selected by committees appointed by shared governance in collaboration with UI administration and confirmed by the Board of Regents.
Forbes has an international reputation for her work in radiochemistry. Her research in actinide chemistry and nuclear materials has garnered more than $10 million in funding and resulted in more than 100 publications in scientific journals. In the classroom, Forbes has improved learning environments to support student success and retention and expanded program offerings in chemistry. She was instrumental in developing the university’s radiochemistry program, for which she worked with the State Hygienics Laboratory, Association of Public Health Laboratories, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a graduate certificate. Forbes also served on numerous national advisory boards and committees, such as the National Academies of Science Review Committee for supplemental low activity waste at the Hanford site and the Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate Advisory Board for Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Aliasger Salem, associate vice president for research and Lyle and Sharon Bighley endowed chair and professor in the College of Pharmacy, has also received the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence.
Salem has made significant contributions to pharmaceutical sciences. His renowned expertise spans drug discovery, development, formulation, and delivery, with a focus on advancing therapies for regenerative medicine, cancer, and other diseases. Salem has written more than 270 peer-reviewed publications and has published in many prestigious scientific journals. Additionally, he has secured 11 patents and more than $80 million in grant funding. His teaching and leadership excellence are recognized through multiple awards, including the Class of 2023 Teacher of the Year, the 2020 Leadership in Research Award, and the 2020 Hancher-Finkbine Medallion. He is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, American Association for Pharmaceutical Scientists, Controlled Release Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The winners of these awards will be recognized at the university’s annual Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at Hancher Auditorium. See the UI Events Calendar for more information.