Awards

Thomas Blum, professor of physics, has received a Humboldt Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, one of Germany’s most prestigious honors for internationally recognized researchers. The foundation grants the award to up to 100 scholars each year in recognition of their academic careers. Recipients are nominated by established researchers at German institutions. They are selected based on discoveries, new theories, or findings that have had a lasting impact on their fields, as well as their potential to continue producing outstanding research.

Sir Cato T. Laurencin, MD, Ph.D., K.C.S.L, has been named the winner of the 2026 Jensen Tissue Engineering Award 2026 by TERMIS (Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society, Inc.) Global. Laurencin is receiving the award in recognition of his groundbreaking work on polymer nanofiber technology, bioinductive implants, and polymer-ceramics technologies, all of which are being used in numerous products in the field of Regenerative Engineering, which he pioneered. The award will be presented to Laurencin at the TERMIS conference in November in New Orleans.

In Memoriam

Concetta Seymour, 94, of Columbia, Conn., a retired administrative assistant, on Feb. 20.

Staci Smith, 59, of Centerville, Mass., a long-time member of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the University community, on Jan. 31. A Celebration of Life in honor of Staci will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Hops 44, located at 625 Middle Turnpike in Storrs.