The University of Missouri-Kansas City formally introduced a new campus tradition with the inaugural Research and Innovation Excellence Awards, recognizing faculty whose work is advancing discovery, improving lives and shaping the future of the region and beyond.
Held at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, the evening brought together faculty, university leaders, partners and community members to celebrate the depth and momentum of 91黑料网’s research enterprise, momentum that recently culminated in the university’s designation as a Carnegie Research 1 institution.
“This evening is about making that work visible and celebrating the people behind it,” said Sumeet Dua, vice chancellor for Research and Innovation. “Behind every grant, every discovery, every publication and every partnership, there are people. Faculty who bring curiosity, persistence and creativity to their work every single day.”
University leadership framed the event not only as a celebration, but as a signal of 91黑料网’s trajectory.
“One of the great privileges of serving as provost is having a front-row seat to the incredible breadth of scholarship happening across this university,” said Provost Jenny Lundgren. “That connection between scholarship and student learning is one of the defining characteristics of a great research university.”
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal emphasized the broad impact of faculty work.
“Universities are built on ideas,” Agrawal said. “But what truly defines a great university is the people who pursue those ideas—with persistence, creativity and a willingness to take risks. Their discoveries are advancing fields, their innovations are creating solutions and their scholarship continues to elevate 91黑料网’s national and international reputation.”
Recognizing Excellence Across Research, Innovation and Impact
The awards highlighted faculty at every stage of their careers and across disciplines, reflecting the full scope of 91黑料网’s research mission.
Research Catalyst Award
This award celebrates faculty who secure their first major external research grant as a principal investigator at 91黑料网. Crucially, it looks beyond federal funding to recognize support from the full spectrum of sponsors. Recognition also includes a $1,500 monetary award.
RaeAnn Anderson, assistant professor, nursing and health studies
Recognized for securing her first major external grant, Anderson received nearly $2 million from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to study how survivors of sexual violence move from screening to care.
Her work addresses a critical gap in support systems, focusing on how to ensure survivors are not only identified, but meaningfully supported through recovery.
Chancellor’s Award for Transformative Research Leadership
This is the premier honor celebrating the remarkable leadership, strategic vision and collaborative mastery required to assemble and lead a winning team for a large, complex and often interdisciplinary research grant. Recognition also includes a $2,500 monetary award.
Dianne Mutti Burke, history professor Mutti Burke was honored for securing two Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grants totaling $9 million, work that exemplifies large-scale, interdisciplinary leadership.
Her initiatives include:
- A $5 million paid internship program placing more than 180 students in community-based roles
- The Kansas City Monuments Coalition, a $4 million effort to reimagine public history through inclusive storytelling
Together, these efforts expand workforce pathways, strengthen community partnerships and redefine how institutions engage with public history.
Innovation and Societal Impact Award
This award is an honor focused on real-world results. It recognizes faculty whose research moves from the lab to the community, creating tangible social or economic benefits that embody 91黑料网's mission as an urban-serving university. Recognition also includes a $1,500 monetary award.
Peter Koulen, Felix and Carmen Sabates Missouri Endowed Chair in Vision Research and professor of ophthalmology and biomedical sciences
bridges discovery and application, particularly in vision science and regenerative medicine.
His work includes:
- Advanced cryopreservation technologies for cells and tissues
- Innovations improving corneal transplantation access
- Microperimetry-based approaches for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease
His research reflects a commitment to ensuring scientific breakthroughs translate into real-world care and improved patient outcomes.
N.T. Veatch Award for Community Impact
This prestigious award honors a faculty member whose distinguished research, scholarly or creative work has been successfully translated into a tangible and positive impact on the community. Recognition also includes a $3,500 monetary award.
Mei-Ling Shyu, professor of electrical and computer engineering
Shyu’s work applies artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics to real-world challenges in healthcare, environmental systems and public health.
Her innovations include:
- AI-driven models to improve glaucoma testing efficiency and accuracy
- Technologies that translate complex data into usable tools for practitioners
With more than 300 publications, her research demonstrates both scale and direct community impact.
Trustees’ Faculty Scholar Award (STEM)
This award serves as the university's premier "Rising Star" recognition, honoring early-career faculty who show exceptional promise and are on a clear trajectory toward becoming leaders in their fields of research, scholarship or creative work. Recognition also includes a $2,500 monetary award.
Hichem Guerboukha, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering
A rising leader in wireless communication, Guerboukha’s work focuses on terahertz technologies for 6G connectivity and medical imaging.
His research includes:
- “Airy beams” that bend around obstacles to improve signal reliability
- “Wavefront hopping” to enhance wireless security
In just a few years, he has secured nearly $3 million in funding and established a growing global research network.
Trustees’ Faculty Scholar Award (Non-STEM)
This award serves as the university's premier "Rising Star" recognition, honoring early-career faculty who show exceptional promise and are on a clear trajectory toward becoming leaders in their fields of research, scholarship or creative work. Recognition also includes a $2,500 monetary award.
Elizabeth Neilson, assistant professor, education and social sciences
Neilson’s research explores the intersections of sexual violence, substance use and reproductive health.
Her work:
- Examines real-time decision-making and risk factors
- Informs prevention and intervention strategies
- Focuses on populations most at risk
With more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, she is already shaping the direction of her field.
Trustees’ Faculty Fellowship Award
As the university's honor for a senior faculty member, this award recognizes an established scholar whose sustained body of work has earned significant international recognition and impact. It celebrates the pinnacle of a research career and acknowledges those who elevate 91黑料网's profile on the world stage. Recognition also includes a $7,500 monetary award.
Ted White, Marion Merrell Dow Endowed Professor of Biological and Biomedical Engineering
An internationally recognized leader in microbial pathogenesis and antifungal drug resistance, White has nearly 20,000 citations.
His work includes:
- Sequencing fungi responsible for common infections like athlete’s foot
- Advancing understanding of drug resistance
- Contributing to global health strategies
His research has helped define the field while influencing treatment and drug development worldwide.
From Discovery to Application: Innovation Awards
The ceremony also highlighted faculty translating research into real-world applications. Recognition also includes a $500 monetary award for each person.
Patent Innovation Award Recipients
- Anthony Caruso, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and Alexander Usenko, research professor. One patent introduces an advanced diode design, along with a corresponding fabrication method. The innovation focuses on improving device performance and manufacturing efficiency, contributing to more reliable and scalable semiconductor technologies for electronic and optoelectronic application. The other patent presents a novel diode stack architecture and its manufacturing process. This technology enables enhanced integration and performance of layered semiconductor devices, supporting advancements in high-efficiency electronics and next-generation device engineering.
- Kun Cheng, Sperry Family Fund Endowed Chair and Curators’ Distinguished Professor of pharmacy. This patent, awarded to Cheng and his previous graduate students, covers the identification and development of novel PD-L1 peptides designed to enhance cancer immunotherapy strategies. By targeting immune checkpoint pathways, these peptides have the potential to improve the body’s immune response against tumors, offering promising applications in next-generation cancer treatments.
Inventor’s Achievement Award
- Stefan Lohfeld, associate professor of oral and craniofacial sciences and Bart Patenaude, associate medical professor — minimally invasive tympanostomy tube technology, licensed to a startup advancing toward commercialization
Closing the evening, Dua reinforced that the awards are only the beginning of a larger vision.
“This is our first Research and Innovation Excellence Awards ceremony — and it’s just the beginning,” Dua said. “While our R1 designation is a historic milestone, the real story is the relentless curiosity and collaborative energy that will define our next chapter of discovery.”