Distinguished Scientists
They are the best and brightest from all over the world, working tirelessly right here in the heartland to discover treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases.
They are at the center of discovery, conducting breakthrough research that will improve the lives of Nebraskans and beyond. They are UNMC's Distinguished Scientists.
2024 Award Ceremony
The University of Nebraska Medical Center's 2024 honorees will be honored in an award ceremony at 4 p.m. November 14 in the Durham Research Center Auditorium. A reception and poster session will follow in the Durham Research Center II commons area.
Scientist Laureate
The UNMC Scientist Laureate Award is the highest honor UNMC bestows to researchers.
Hamid Band, MD, PhD
Hamid Band, MD, PhD, the Elizabeth Bruce Professor of Cancer Research with the UNMC Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, has been named UNMC’s 19th Scientist Laureate.
Research Leadership Award
The Research Leadership Award is intended to honor scientists previously recognized as Distinguished Scientists who have a longstanding research funding history, and also serve as research leaders and mentors on campus.
Corey Hopkins, PhD
College of Pharmacy
Kaleb Michaud, PhD
College of Medicine
Distinguished Scientists
The Distinguished Scientist Award – which is sponsored by the chancellor – recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists in the country during the past five years.
Keshore Bidasee, PhD
College of Medicine
Rey Carabeo, PhD
College of Medicine
Karen Gould, PhD
College of Medicine
So-Youn Kim, PhD
College of Medicine
Wasim Nasser, PhD
College of Medicine
Edward Peters, ScD
College of Public Health
Lynette Smith, PhD
College of Public Health
Sumit Yadav, PhD
College of Dentistry
New Investigators
New Investigator Awards go to outstanding UNMC scientists who in the past two years have secured their first funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense or other national sources. New Investigators also had to demonstrate scholarly activity, such as publishing their research or presenting their findings at national conventions.
Sean Avedissian, PharmD
College of Pharmacy
Sara Bares, MD
College of Medicine
Subhash Chand, PhD
College of Medicine
Sujata Chaudhari, PhD
College of Medicine
Suyong Choi, PhD
Eppley Institute
Lynda Harris, PhD
College of Medicine
Jocelyn Herstein, PhD
College of Public Health
Breanna Hetland, PhD
College of Nursing
Harshraj Leuva, MBBS
College of Medicine
Bethany Lowndes, PhD
College of Medicine
Shireen Rajaram, PhD
College of Public Health
Shibiao Wan, PhD
College of Medicine