Adipose tissue is part of the body’s immune response to infection, and it releases inflammatory proteins. Sometimes this inflammatory response is harmful. Carolyn Bramante focuses on testing ways to safely protect the body from too much immune response during infection to prevent hospitalizations from infection, as well as long-term illness after infection. Dr. Bramante has overseen 4,200 participants in trials of repurposed medications during acute COVID-19. These results have been used for treatment guidelines.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker once said, “Any government is only as good as its workers.” The federal workforce keeps planes landing safely, the food supply secure, and the environment protected. Nicholas Bednar’s research explains why presidents invest in managing some agencies but neglect others, and how these choices shape government performance. Widely cited by scholars and policymakers, his work defines how we understand accountability and effectiveness in the federal government.

Solid-state materials underpin nearly all technologies, from computer processors to batteries. The Bartel group is working to discover new materials that are more efficient, more affordable, and more sustainably sourced. Their research applies computational methods that resolve the properties of materials at the atomic scale, leveraging recent advances in artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery process. Through close collaboration with experimental researchers, they test their predictions and improve their models for materials design.

Aamina Ahmad is an assistant professor of English and creative writing. Rebel is a historical novel about a disillusioned British Indian soldier in the Great War, Ali Akbar, who finds his way to the Indian revolutionary movement. Intent on the downfall of the British Empire, he must decide what he is willing to do for freedom. Drawing on new historical scholarship and family history, Rebel charts a largely forgotten story, breaking new literary ground.

Dr. Wolfson is an exemplar of outstanding graduate and professional classroom instruction, student advising, curricular innovation and educational leadership in health data sciences. His courses are accessible, rigorous, inclusive, and creative; he has supported the career development of students in a wide range of fields; and the courses, programs, and policies he has helped develop have been vital to advancing the educational missions of the School of Public Health and University of Minnesota.

Jamie Stang created the first Coordinated Master's Program in Public Health Nutrition, demonstrating a model that became the national standard. Dr. Stang specializes in creating community-engaged academic programs that bridge the university-community divide and generate tangible public health benefits. She secured substantial federal grants to build training centers where she has mentored future professionals, developing strong leadership capacity and practical expertise in policy, communication, and professional practice.

Amelia Shindelar is an exceptional force behind human rights instruction, programming, research, and mentorship. Going well beyond her administrative role, Amelia has built and sustained the Master of Human Rights degree through outstanding graduate instruction, intensive mentoring, and visionary program leadership. She excels in inclusive, innovative teaching; holistic advising; student-centered research mentorship; and curriculum development. 

Professor Andrew Oxenham co-developed cornerstone courses linking sensory science with human experience, created the Graduate Minor in Translational Sensory Science, and directed the Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science to bridge research, education, and community outreach. His trainees consistently receive prestigious fellowships, and their accomplishments reflect his deep commitment to excellence, inclusion, and student development that advances the university’s mission and the field of sensory science.

Kristine Miller is a transformational teacher and scholar of Landscape Architecture. In 2005, she cofounded ReMix, a reciprocal community-university partnership with Juxtaposition Arts, and has devoted decades to cultivating cooperative, experiential research and learning opportunities. Through equity-centered design pedagogy and practice, she is preparing graduate and professional students for their future public-serving professions in land use, planning, and design.

Since arriving at the University of Minnesota in 2001, Dr. Greene has been the doctoral advisor (or co-advisor), chaired and graduated 26 different students, and sat on the dissertation committees of nearly 60 more. As chair, he led a strategic change in the graduate program to cultivate and use financial resources to improve the economic support of graduate students during the summer. He also developed a professional development program to equitably assign teaching resources to graduate students.