Two professors have been named as Outstanding University Researchers for 2016. Professor in Environmental Health Guang Jin and Professor of Psychology Jeffrey Kahn will be honored on Founders Day on Thursday, February 18.
This award recognizes faculty members who are acknowledged for their research nationally or internationally, their quality of scholarly work, and their contributions to their profession and discipline.
Jin, who joined the Illinois State faculty in 1999, focuses her research on water pollution and wastewater pollution control. Her studies include exploration of water quality modeling and management, with recent emphasis on coastal wetlands. Her interests include work on bioenergy and biofuels, made from materials such as switchgrass.
See the winners of the Research Initiative Awards and the Cross-Diciplinary Research Award
Her work garnered grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the Omron Foundation, and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center. She was inducted into Illinois State’s Million Dollar Club of grant winners in 2011.
During her time at Illinois State, Jin was named researcher of the year for the Department of Health Sciences in 2011, and won research of the year awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She also won the College of Applied Science and Technology Outstanding Teaching Award in 2008.
She earned her doctorate in environmental health sciences from Tulane University.
Kahn, who joined the Illinois State faculty in 1997, uses his research to explore emotional expression and wellbeing, and scientific training in professional psychology.
His studies and publications span the depth of human emotions and coping mechanisms from shame and bullying to dating violence. Kahn’s work has appeared in such prestigious publications as Journal of Counseling Psychology, Psychology in Schools, and the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. He also co-authored the section on research training in professional psychology for the 2014 Oxford Handbook of Education & Training in Professional Psychology.
Kahn is a past recipient of the Illinois State Research Initiative Award, the Outstanding College Researcher for Social Sciences, and the University College Impact Award. He earned his doctorate from Iowa State University.
Find additional information on Founders Day.
