KALAMAZOO, Michigan — Whether in the lab, in the air, or beyond Earth’s orbit, Western professors are leading the way and inspiring change in their fields of study.

The University celebrates these rising stars of higher education each year with the Emerging Scholar Awards. Drs. Megan Grunert Kowalske, chairman of the chemistry department; Kristina lemmer, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; and Adam mathews, associate professor of geography, are the 2021-2022 laureates.

“Recognizing talented and innovative young leaders with our highest early career award, the Emerging Scholar Award, is of critical importance to our university, our community and their professional fields. Their contributions advance knowledge and push the boundaries of our understanding, ”says Dr Jennifer Bott, rector and vice-president for academic affairs.

Recipients are nominated by their peers for scholarly or creative achievement that has advanced knowledge and has shown impact beyond their discipline and shows great potential for future work.

“It is clear that their future as researchers and faculty continue to shine brightly, and I am very grateful that they have chosen to do their work at Western Michigan University,” Bott said.

New class of emerging scholars to be recognized at ceremony Thursday September 30 at 3 p.m. in Floyd Hall D0109. The event is the first in a series of Academic Excellence Awards, a new tradition that carries on the old fall convocation throughout the semester. More information on upcoming events is available online.

Dr Megan Grunert Kowalske

Everyone deserves a place in the lab. Dr Megan Grunert Kowalske is leading the charge of diversifying chemistry and other scientific fields. His in-depth work focuses on identifying the socio-cultural factors that affect the learning and career choices of groups typically under-represented in STEM fields.

“Through her research, she has made important contributions to understanding some of the most critical dynamics that lead to student performance in science class,” says Dr Sherine Obare, Dean of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering in North Carolina. “She has developed strategies to help educators implement practices that lead to student success and achievement. She has also worked on developing practices that students can use to strengthen their scientific identity, so that they can confidently succeed as learners.

Appointed chair of Western’s chemistry department in July 2020, Grunert Kowalski heads an almost $ 1 million National Science Foundation S-STEM grant aimed at fostering a sense of belonging and fostering success of chemistry and biochemistry transfer students at Western.

“In her classroom, Dr. Grunert Kowalske promotes student growth and diversification by using equitable and evidence-based teaching practices,” says Dr Kelly Teske, assistant professor of chemistry and co-principal investigator and cohort mentor on the grant. “She’s a role model to me and with her wealth of knowledge in researching diversity in STEM, she knows where to lead the chemistry department to be a more welcoming environment that better supports our under-represented faculty and students. I am delighted to see where we are going under his leadership. “

Grunert Kowalske is also an advisory member for an NSF-ADVANCE grant as well as an iChange committee member for an NSF-ASPIRE grant to Western. His work has been recognized internationally in a number of high impact journals such as the Journal of Chemical Education; International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology; Research and practice in chemistry education; and the International Journal of STEM Education. Several other publications are currently under review. It’s a job that, according to her peers, only scratches the surface of the impact she will have on the pitch.

“Megan’s research findings can inform institutional change that has the potential to significantly and positively affect the lives of many students in the future and is therefore essential,” says Dr MaryKay Orgill, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “If I think of the people who REALLY change an area, they’re the ones who offer a new way of thinking or looking at a problem. Megan’s development of methodologies for examining issues of diversity in STEM education will continue. to influence STEM education for years to come. “

Dr Kristina Lemmer

Lemmer

Dr. Kristina Lemmer’s work takes plasma dynamics and spacecraft propulsion to new heights. As one of the most prolific and funded researchers outside of Western, she has won 14 major research grants since arriving at the University in 2012 worth over $ 3.5 million. sponsors such as the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Science Foundation and NASA. She has also received Faculty Research Fellowships at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as the prestigious Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award in 2014, a grant only given to people whom the DOD deems to have the higher research. potential.

“Dr. Lemmer’s research has significant and far-reaching impacts in the areas of transportation, energy and national security,” says Dr. Claudia Fajardo-Hansford, Associate Professor and Director of the Western Combustion and Flows Research Laboratory and the Center for Applied Vehicle Design and Simulation. “In my professional career, I have met few professors with the level of motivation, determination and unwavering commitment to research demonstrated by Dr. Lemmer.”

In addition to her outstanding promise in the field, she has also had a huge impact on the future of aerospace engineering by guiding a number of graduate researchers to careers.

“These former graduate students currently work at SpaceX, Helion Energy, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the NASA Glenn Research Center,” said Dr Timothy Greene, professor of industrial and entrepreneurial engineering and engineering management.

“Particularly compared to fellow students I hire at other competitive labs such as Princeton, Michigan, Washington, and Reno, Western students tend to excel at hands-on technical methods,” adds Dr David Kirtley, CEO of Helion Energy. “Professor Lemmer and the Aerospace Laboratory for Plasma Experiments, which she founded at Western, produce world-class technical research and they are my go-to resource for hiring quality engineers who influence beyond the community. space propulsion. “

Lemmer also mentors undergraduate students as part of the Western Aerospace Launch Initiative, a student-centered after-school program in which students design, build, test, and launch a cubic satellite into space.

Dr Adam Mathews

Matthew

Dr. Adam Mathews’ work is putting Western on the map in geographic information science, particularly examining environmental issues through low-altitude drone-based remote sensing. His research focuses on digital mapping technologies and advances methods of processing and analyzing geospatial data.

“In collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Dr Mathews has developed a state-of-the-art method using spatial radar data to monitor urban built-up volume (i.e. the extent and types of urban buildings) in nine urban areas of the United States, “says Dr Chansheng He, professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Tourism.

“Urban remote sensing research … has an impact on areas beyond geography such as urban planning, environmental sciences, computing, sociology, etc. », Adds Dr Son Nghiem, senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who collaborated with Mathews. “In particular, his contributions to 4D urban research were seen as a breakthrough in the scientific community crucial to conducting comprehensive analyzes of urban areas to capture environmental and socio-economic changes.”

Mathews has collaborated with scientists in a number of fields outside of his own research and has regularly published research in internationally renowned journals including the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation and the International Journal of Remote Sensing. . His posts garnered 588 citations, a rare feat at such an early stage in his career.

“Adam has exceptional accomplishments as an early career academic researcher, clearly advancing new knowledge that has real impact with international reach. He is on the verge of becoming a leading researcher in his field, ”said André room, Director of the Institute for Land, Water and Society at Charles Sturt University in Australia.

In addition to advancing knowledge in the field, Mathews is also inspiring the next generation of geographers with a grant from the American Geophysical Union, introducing topographic mapping using drones for middle school students.

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