During his final week in office, President Biden honored the research contributions and leadership potential of two UConn researchers by naming them winners of a prestigious award.

On Jan. 14, UConn civil engineering Professor Arash E. Zaghi and ecology and evolutionary biology associate Professor Jill Wegrzyn were announced as two of the winners of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). It is the highest award that the federal government can bestow to scientists and engineers in the early phases of their careers.

The PECASE awards come on the heels of another UConn faculty member to receive a presidential honor. On Jan. 13, Dr. Linda Barry, a professor in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Health Sciences at the UConn School of Medicine, was announced as a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Like the PECASE, the award is the most significant honor that the government bestows.

“This is fantastic news. I am thrilled at the recognition for the superb research work of Dr. Zaghi and Dr. Wegrzyn, and the extraordinary mentoring work of Dr. Barry,” says UConn President Radenka Maric. “These honors are given to only a small number of truly exceptional academic researchers and teachers, and are an outstanding tribute to the dedication and passion of these UConn faculty members. Our whole University is proud of their success.”

Zaghi and Wegrzyn were among 400 recipients of the PECASE, which the Clinton Administration established in 1996 to recognize early career researchers and contributions to far-reaching developments in science and technology. President Biden awarded recipients who are funded through federal sources. Both UConn researchers are working on projects financed by the National Science Foundation.

“I would like to congratulate my colleagues Jill Wegryzn and Arash Zaghi on their recognition and award from President Biden for their contributions and bright futures in their respective fields,” says Pamir Alpay, UConn Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. “The PECASE is one of the greatest honors an early career researcher can receive, and UConn is honored to be represented by not one, but two recipients. Jill and Arash exemplify UConn’s excellence in research, and we are excited to see how they build on these awards.”

Zaghi is a member of the civil engineering department in UConn’s College of Engineering. His research centers on promoting a strengths-based approach to neurodiverse learning, which recognizes the unique and often exceptional strengths of neurodiverse students. He is a past recipient of an NSF CAREER Award for his work in his field, as well as an NSF Mid-Career Advancement Award for a project utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance STEM education participation among neurodivergent students.

Zaghi recalls that his research was considered radical when he began seeking NSF funding.

“We were extremely fortunate that the NSF invested in us,” he says. “I think that’s a great story of how bold research pays off. The NSF is there to support high-risk, high-payoff research, and they supported that ‘crazy idea.’ Now, here we are – with the amount of visibility, I think we have substantially contributed to changing the narrative from a deficit perspective to a strengths-based one.”

For Wegryzn, the PECASE award recognizes her contributions to biodiversity and conservation genomics research, specifically at the intersection of computational and evolutionary biology. She says it acknowledges leadership in developing software that enhances the efficiency and accuracy of genome sequencing across the tree of life.

“Our software has been applied to everything from deep sea corals to desert invertebrates to high elevation conifers, which represent an incredible range of complexity,” Wegryzn says. “Through our software, we aim to facilitate fundamental questions in evolution while also providing actionable targets for conservation and restoration programs. Receiving this prestigious award in the midst of climate change elevates the importance of this work and also inspires the students and trainees who contribute to its success.”

Dr. Barry was honored for her significant mentorship, especially for underrepresented students in medicine. During her over three decades of mentoring experience, she has encouraged more than 300 students to pursue careers in science. Additionally, the Women in Surgery Interest Group she founded has led to her mentoring of more than 400 women medical students who demonstrated an interest in a surgical career.

“The Presidential Award recognizes the invaluable role of mentorship in recruiting, promoting, and sustaining the next generation to pursue scientific careers. I was honored to be nominated but even more thrilled to be amongst the chosen of such an esteemed group,” says Barry. “This award recognizes the great mentorship work we are doing at UConn School of Medicine. It is a profound acknowledgment of the time and effort we invest in our mentees to succeed often without the expectation of recognition.”