Three Illinois State University professors have been named 2022 “Researchers to Know” by the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC). Professor of Sociology Joan Brehm, Professor of Chemistry Jun-Hyun Kim, and Professor of Geography John Kostelnick join the annual list that highlights researchers at Illinois universities who have made significant advances in their fields.
Dr. Joan Brehm is being honored for her work in the category of Environment and Sustainability. Brehm holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Utah State University. Her research interests center on the interactions between human populations and the environment in which they live. She has collaborated with diverse scholars and has published extensively on sustainability topics including local foods and community-supported agriculture, sense of place and place attachment, adoption of watershed best management practices for water quality, and the role of climate change and local knowledge in fisheries in Tanzania. She currently serves as the chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Illinois State University and is the co-founder and co-director of the Center for a Sustainable Water Future.
Appears InDr. Jun-Hyun Kim is being honored for his work in the category of Medical Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in organic and materials chemistry from the University of Houston. His research interests focus on regulating structurally diverse nanoscale metal and polymer, as well as their composite materials, for the development of highly reactive catalytic systems, sensitive signaling devices, and novel drug delivery vehicles. He has collaborated with chemistry and engineering groups across several countries, and his research has been supported by federal and private funding agencies.
Dr. John Kostelnick is being honored for his work in the category of Climate Change. He holds a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Kansas. His primary research interests include crisis and hazard/risk mapping and GIS integration in science and society. He is frequently a member of interdisciplinary research teams and has co-published research with his colleagues in a range of scientific journals related to geography, GIScience, conservation biology, environmental science, hydrogeology, and renewable energy. He serves as the director of the Institute for Geospatial Analysis and Mapping (GEOMAP) at Illinois State University.
“I’m proud to see that the ISTC has honored these colleagues for their scholarly contributions,” said Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Craig C. McLauchlan. “It is further external validation of the great work they are doing at ISU.”
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Heather Dillaway said, “I offer my congratulations to these three talented researchers. The Coalition’s recognition of Drs. Brehm, Kim, and Kostelnick reminds us that ISU faculty prioritize both teaching and research and achieve excellence in both arenas. These researchers are at the forefront of their fields of study, and they are shining examples of the first-class faculty we have in the College of Arts and Sciences at ISU.”
Brehm, Kim, and Kostelnick join the list of Illinois State researchers honored in this way since the program began in 2018. The ISTC is a member-driven nonprofit dedicated to growing Illinois’ economy and expanding economic opportunity through support for science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. For additional information about these and other researchers, visit the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition’s website.
