Research and Creative Achievement in 2009

STEPHEN PAUL OLIVER
A professor of animal science, Stephen Paul Oliver is by all measures a highly productive researcher who is committed to sharing knowledge with the industry and mentoring the next generation of scientists. Through his work in lactation physiology, he has developed new methods of controlling mastitis and other infections in dairy cattle. Oliver initiated the Tennessee Quality Milk Initiative, which reaches dairy processors and the frontline milkers—all of whom play a role in the products that we eat and drink. Oliver co-founded and co-directed the Institute of Agriculture’s Food Safety Center of Excellence and serves as editor-in-chief of the related food safety journal, Food Borne Pathogens and Disease. An accomplished researcher, he’s an excellent example of our responsibility in ensuring that our discoveries translate into improvements for the industry and the people it serves.

SHIH-LUNG SHAW
Department head and professor of geography, Shih-Lung Shaw is an internationally recognized scholar in transportation geography, geographic information science and the computational aspects of geographic processes. His most far-reaching work involves developing new tools that model the movements of people through urban spaces in their daily travels. His work is at the cutting edge and has attracted the attention of Microsoft China, which has opened wonderful opportunities for future collaborations. Last year, Shaw was elected as a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Science, a prestigious honor that is reserved for the most accomplished scientists.

CHRISTOPHER SKINNER
Professor of educational psychology and counseling, Chris Skinner is described as one of the most prolific and collaborative researchers and authors of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. His research deals with finding innovative methods to remedy students’ academic or behavior problems. Skinner and his students engage in this applied research to find interventions that are sustainable and measurable. Skinner focuses on a team approach and has involved 159 students in his peer-reviewed articles in the past 10 years; his students appear as senior author of the majority of the articles. His work has drawn the attention of many, including benefactors Pam and Tom Korn, who donated $2 million to found the KLASS Center, a program designed to provide services to students from preschool to college who need help mastering academic and social skills.

STEVEN WILHELM
Professor of microbiology, Steven Wilhelm is a highly productive researcher who has made a significant impact in the field of microbial ecology. A leader in the research of toxic algal blooms and aquatic bacterial viruses, Wilhelm has received significant funding from the National Science Foundation. He is actively involved in building the program by recruiting students and involving them in his body of work. He has a demonstrated commitment to our students in sharing his excitement for scientific discovery.