Two Arts and Sciences faculty earned the University of Nebraska's most prestigious awards for research, creative activity, teaching and engagement: Charles Wood, professor and director of the Nebraska Center for Virology; and Stephen Reichenbach, professor of computer science and engineering.
The university-wide awards, announced March 25, recognize faculty whose work has had a strong impact on students, the university and the state.
“Faculty are the University of Nebraska’s greatest assets. Daily I am struck by the great work that our faculty members are doing to educate our students, conduct important research, and engage with Nebraskans and people around the world,” said James Linder, NU's interim president. “I am honored to recognize some of the outstanding achievements of our faculty, and I thank them for all that they do. They are a key reason why the University of Nebraska enjoys such impressive momentum today.”
Overall, six of the honors were awarded in three categories to University of Nebraska faculty. The awards will be presented during a luncheon in May.
Wood received the Outstanding Research and Creative Activity award. The ORCA recognizes faculty for outstanding research or creative activity of national or international significance.
Wood has spent his career driving innovations in HIV/AIDS research. His many studies have led to new prevention and management efforts, and new treatment methods that suppress the virus. Wood also founded a new research center, the Nebraska Center for Virology, a unique collaboration between UNL, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University.
Wood is the lead investigator on a number of projects supported by millions in competitive grant funding, making him one of the highest-funded investigators at UNL.
Most importantly, Wood ensures his research is accessible to the global community. He trains Chinese and Zambian personnel and develops healthcare infrastructure in those countries, helping to slow transmission and minimizing the damage of AIDS in Africa and Asia.
Reichenbach received an Innovation, Development and Engagement Award. The IDEA recognizes faculty who have extended academic expertise beyond the boundaries of the university in ways that have enriched the broader community.
In a previous career as a teacher, Reichenbach gained exposure to early personal desktop computers and was quickly hooked on computer science. He co-founded Internet Nebraska Corp., which offering high-speed Internet connections to Nebraskans. The company grew from 20 subscribers to more than 2,100 in less than two years, and is still the oldest and largest internet service provider based in the state.
He also founded the software company GC Image LLC. Researchers around the world have published more than 100 scholarly journal papers detailing findings enabled by GC Image software.
Reichenbach serves as a role model for colleagues interested in pursuing collaborative research or developing university-based spin-off companies. Graduate students supervised by Reichenbach have accepted position in government, academia and at leading companies like Microsoft, Apple and Google.
For more information about the awards, go to http://go.unl.edu/khxj.
Adapted from Four UNL faculty receive university-wide honors on UNL Today.
