Since 2008, faculty throughout FIU are recognized with the Top Scholar award for significant achievements in their scholarly pursuits during the annual Faculty Convocation and Awards Ceremony.
This year, three members of the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work were selected to receive Top Scholar awards, presented by President Mark B. Rosenberg and Provost Kenneth G. Furton.
Tomás R. Guilarte dean and professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, was recognized for his research and creative activities is in the category of Established Faculty with Significant Grants (Sciences), including securing another R01 award totaling $2.31 million from the National Institute of Health/ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH/NIEHS) to continue his research of the role of the Translocator Protein 18 kDa (TSPO) in brain inflammation.
Cristina Palacios, associate professor in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, was recognized for her research and creative activities is in the category of Awards/Honors. Her nomination stood out for her recent recognition by the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health and the American Society of Nutrition.
Miguel Ángel Cano, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology, was recognized for his research and creative activities is in the category of Junior Faculty with Significant Grants (Sciences), particularly for procuring significant funding for his work in ethnic discrimination and alcohol risk behaviors among Hispanic adolescents with grants totaling more than $1.3 million.
"It is a distinct honor to be recognized by President Rosenberg and Provost Furton alongside such distinguished faculty with the FIU Top Scholar award, particularly to stand beside my fellow Stempel College colleagues,” Guilarte said. “Each of us is working to find solutions that will improve health and wellness for the public good, and we are grateful to FIU for the support and encouragement in our research.”
The awardees are selected for having made significant research contributions locally, nationally, and internationally and for their impactful and life-changing work.