Spring 2025 In the News
Maria Gini Receives Prestigious Award for Science and Mathematics Mentors: Maria Gini, faculty member in Computer Science and Engineering, was honored by the White House with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Gini is one of only 25 individuals from across the country to receive the nation’s highest award for science and mathematics mentors, which highlights the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators. Established by Congress in 1995, this award honors individuals and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring individuals from groups that are underrepresented in STEM education and the workforce. Colleagues, administrators, and students nominate individuals and organizations for exemplary mentoring sustained over a minimum of five years.
“Receiving this incredibly prestigious award will reinforce confidence in myself and will give me renewed energy to continue mentoring students and junior colleagues,” said Gini. “This award really should go to all the people who supported me, inspiring me to share what I learned from them and to continue learning from my mentees.”
University Startup Wins Top Minority-Led Company Prize at 2024 Minnesota Cup: ME alumni Andrew Alegria (PhD 2024), Amey Joshi (PhD 2023) and Daniel Surinach (MS 2021) co-founded Objective Biotechnology Inc. along with faculty member Suhasa Kodandaramaiah in 2023. Objective Biotechnology's mission is to develop high-impact technologies that enable comprehensive measurement and manipulation of biological systems at multiple scales, unlocking new capabilities for researchers. Kodandaramiah is a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering and closely associated with the Minnesota Robotics Institute. In 2024, Objective Biotechnology won numerous startup awards - including the Walleye Tank startup pitch competition ($10,000), Best startup with founders of color at MnCUP awarded by JP Morgan Chase and MEDA ($25,000) and a $35,000 award from LaunchMN. They have also received a SBIR grant for $289,000, and have raised over $750,000 in seed funding from MN based angel investors.
Demoz Gebre-Egziabher, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, was recently elected into the prestigious Class of 2025 Fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The AIAA Fellow designation is one of the most distinguished honors bestowed within the aerospace community. It is awarded to individuals who have made substantial and valuable contributions to the advancement of aerospace science and engineering. The newly elected Fellows will be formally inducted during a ceremony on Tuesday, April 29, in Washington, D.C., followed by a celebration at the AIAA Awards Gala the next evening. Gebre-Egziabher joins an exclusive group of only 2,092 individuals who have earned this honor since the title was first established. This recognition highlights his exceptional contributions to aerospace science and engineering.
McGovern and Team Win Veterans Administration Merit Award: Robert A. McGovern, MD, faculty member in Neurosurgery, is the PI on a Veterans Administration Merit Award titled “Kinematic and neural dynamics of postural instability in Parkinson’s disease.” This is a 4-year project with a $1.17 million research budget. The Co-PIs on the project include Rajesh Rajamani (Mechanical Engineering), Mark Fiecas (School of Public Health) and researchers from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. A "VA Merit Review Award" is considered the equivalent of an NIH R01 grant, meaning it is the primary funding mechanism for investigator-initiated research within the Veterans Affairs system, requiring a similar level of study design and depth as an R01 application.