Miami University Faculty Scholar Awards for 2024 have been presented to Katie Johnson, professor of English; John Bowblis, professor of Economics and research fellow of Scripps Gerontology Center, and Michele Navakas, professor of English.

University Faculty Scholar Awards honor faculty whose sustained excellence in research or other creative activity has brought them prominence in their fields.

Miami University Junior Faculty Scholar Awards have been presented to Shijie Zhou, assistant professor of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering; Yingbin Hu, assistant professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; and Peter Nencka, assistant professor of Economics.

The honor is given to faculty members who have demonstrated great potential in research or artistry and have achieved significant standing in their field.

University Faculty Scholar Awards

Katie Johnson

Johnson, an affiliate of Global and Intercultural Studies, has won several prestigious awards in the field of theater studies.

With three books from top-tier presses and 17 single-authored essays and book chapters, she has made a significant contribution to her field. She has also made an impressive contribution of creative works and pieces written for the general public.

“Dr. Johnson is a remarkable researcher and talented writer whose contributions to the fields of theater history and dramatic criticism are significant and long-lasting,” a nominator wrote.

John Bowblis

Bowblis is a leading scholar in long-term care and aging. His scholarship has contributed to improving the lives of the elderly and people with disabilities in meaningful ways.

He has done extensive work in the area of long-term term services and has become one of the leading experts in the nation in long-term services access, quality, and reimbursement.

A nominator wrote,“His work has improved the lives of older people and individuals with severe disability interfacing with America’s long-term services system, by impacting how policy makers, regulators, administrators, and the research community view long-term services.”

Michele Navakas

Navakas, co-director of the Literature Program, specializes in American literature to 1900, the environmental humanities, and race and material culture.

Her books include “Coral Lives: Literature, Labor, and the Making of America” (Princeton University Press, 2023); and “Liquid Landscape: Geography and Settlement at the Edge of Early America” (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018), winner of two book awards from the Florida Historical Society.

She has received numerous and consistent grants and research support. Her work is on the cutting edge of humanities perspectives on environmental studies.

Junior Faculty Scholar Award

Shijie Zhou

A Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society, Zhou as been with Miami since 2021. His research focuses on developing a new generation of electrophysiological imaging techniques based on personalized 3D cardiac computational models.

Zhou’s research has been recognized in multiple ways, including as a finalist for the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society Young Investigator Awards and as a finalist for the Third Annual Mark Josephson Competition. Zhou’s research has been lauded for its ability to save lives and potential to impact a major segment of the world population.

"Dr. Zhou brings a depth of expertise and a breadth of experience that equip him to continue making extraordinarily unique and valuable contributions to cardiology and cardiac surgery,” a nominator wrote.

Yingbin Hu

Hu joined Miami in 2019. His research interests include additive manufacturing of composites, ceramics, and biomaterials; field-assisted manufacturing; laser alloying of metallic materials; and advance machining of high-performance materials. 

Committed to advancing his field, Hu has authored 31 academic publications, played several editorial roles, and contributed as a reviewer for 30 reputable journals and conferences.

“Widely recognized as one of the foremost young researchers in advanced manufacturing, he possesses profound expertise and a proven track record in the field,” a nominator wrote.

Peter Nencka

An applied microeconomist, Nencka's research interests include labor and public economics, with applications to education, innovation, and economic history. He joined Miami in 2020.

Nencka’s recent work studies how local and national policies affect the skills needed to enter and succeed in college and foster innovation. Applauded for sophisticated technique in his work that is very relevant to policymakers and a general audience, Nencka is a public economist who uses historical policy developments to rigorously examine economic and social outcomes, according to a nominator

“Peter is a research star who would be making excellent progress toward tenure at many research-intensive universities,” a nominator wrote. “In addition to being cutting-edge methodologically, Peter’s work is interesting and policy-relevant, relating to many current issues.”