Three renowned professors receive Purdue’s most prestigious research awards

Renowned Purdue faculty members Mikhail Atallah, Michele R. Buzon and Jean A. Chmielewski are being honored as the 2017 recipients of Purdue’s most prestigious awards for research and scholarship.

Atallah, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and a professor of electrical and computer engineering (courtesy), has been chosen as the 2017 Arden L. Bement, Jr. Award recipient. The most prestigious award the University bestows in pure and applied science and engineering, the Bement award honors Atallah for his significant contributions in efficient processing and security protections for computer-based technologies.

Buzon, a professor of anthropology, has been chosen as the 2017 Research and Scholarship Distinction Award recipient. The University’s most prestigious award in the humanities and social sciences, the award honors Buzon’s groundbreaking work in bioarchaeology.

Chmielewski, the Alice Watson Kramer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and a professor of biomedical engineering, has been chosen as the 2017 Herbert Newby McCoy Award recipient. Purdue’s most prestigious award in the natural sciences, the McCoy award recognizes Chmielewski for her pioneering impact on the fields of chemical biology and drug discovery.

“The granting of Purdue’s three most esteemed research awards is the highpoint of the year’s calendar for my office,” says Suresh Garimella, Purdue's executive vice president for research and partnerships and the Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering. “The number of extremely strong nominations we received for each award was impressive, making the selection process that much more difficult.  But it speaks volumes about the research taking place at Purdue. This year’s awardees, Professors Atallah, Buzon and Chmielewski, represent the finest among their peers at Purdue and beyond.”

Award winners were nominated by colleagues, recommended by a faculty committee and named by Purdue President Mitch Daniels. The 2017 recipients will receive a cash prize along with a small grant for their university scholarly activities, and will give distinguished lectures on Oct. 30 in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall.