Appointments, honors and activities

• Faculty and staff honors:

Laura Pyrak-Nolte, distinguished professor of physics and astronomy, was recently awarded the Reginald Fessenden Award from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. This award was presented to Pyrak-Nolte because of her groundbreaking research on fluid flow versus elastic stiffness and fracture surface properties. Her research provides a promising approach for inferring fluid flow properties from seismic data in fractured rock.

Marissa Tremblay, assistant professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary science, has been granted the Doris M. Curtis Outstanding Woman in Science Award from the Geological Society of America. This award is given to outstanding women who have impacted the field of the geosciences in a major way.

Michelle Thompson, assistant professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, was awarded the prestigious NASA Early Career Fellowship. This program seeks to support the development of outstanding scientists and their research careers.
 

• Notables:

Molly Scudder, assistant professor of political science, has recently published a book titled “Beyond Empathy and Inclusion: The Challenge of Listening in Democratic Deliberation.” This book uses Scudder’s own theory, the listening act theory, to examine how to achieve democratic rule in a deeply divided and largely pluralistic society. 

• Alumni honors:

Anya Samek, Purdue University alumna and Krannert graduate, is awarded the Vernon L. Smith Ascending Scholar Prize. This award reflects Samek’s scholarly pursuits and her contributions to the community as well as her groundbreaking work in behavioral economics research. Samek is currently an associate professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego’s Rady School of Management.