2022 RISE Awards

The Office of Sponsored Projects and Technology Commercialization is pleased to announce the 2022 RISE Awardees. This program provides the opportunity to honor faculty that have distinguished themselves through research and innovation, and made noteworthy contributions to Weber State, the community, and the world. Awardees receive $1,500 and recognition for their contributions to research and innovation.

2022 Awardees

James Taylor (OSP Director), Brad Mortensen (President), Taylor Foss, Madeline Mackie, Julian Chan, Ravi Krovi (Provost)

 

Outstanding Researcher Award
Dr. Julian Chan

Dr. Chan is a professor of Mathematics whose research ranges from statisstical and mathematical methodology to statistical applications in a variety of fields. Since his arrival at Weber State University, he has published eleven academic peer-reviewed journal articles and strives to incorporate numerous undergraduate and graduate students into his research and projects. Many of his research publications focus on practical ways to improve individual health through diet and exercise using statistically important methods. His articles have appeared in top journals such as the Journal of Algebra, the Journal of Statistical Planning and inference, and the Biometrical Journal. In addition, he has played major roles in both the creation of the undergraduate BS degree at WSU in Computational Statistics and Data Science as well as the Masters of Data Science that was just approved and submitted this last year. As a founding member, Dr. Chan was instrumental in the collaborative development of the program curriculum, program prerequisites, and coordination with other departments. While at Weber, he has worked hard to improve student success and experiences with mathematics. He has worked with the Math Summer Bridge Program (since renamed Math Preparatory Workshop) to help struggling math students during the summer earn prerequisite math course credits as well as aided in the development of the innovative general education course, Pattern Play — a course designed to incorporate pedagogical strategies qualitatively different from the traditional lecture-based learning. Dr. Chan's work is not only impactful as a research professional but also has great influence on Weber State students. 

 

Programmatic Impact Award
Mr. Taylor Foss

Mr. Foss is an instructor with the Concept Center of the College of Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Technology (EAST) who has been working for years to create innovative solutions to problems both within Weber State and externally within the community. Through the Concept Center, Foss has worked with students on both short- and longer-term projects that not only earn course credit, but also allow for students to be paid for their work and get a unique hands-on experience working with customers from the early stages of scoping project to assessing the next steps of development through prototyping. Some of the unique projects that he has worked on include: a solar-powered low-power information sign to be used in UTA bus stops, a new throttle grip for the F-16s out of Hill Air Force Base, a waterjet cutout art display for a public venue in Bountiful, and he creating of a test fixture for the testing of Electrafly composite struts. Foss has been key to the Concept Center’s economic viability by choosing the pay and non-pay projects he has students work on and will no doubt expand and benefit the WSU community in the future. It seems that there is no problem that Taylor cannot solve.

 

Emerging Researcher Award
Dr. Madeline Mackie

Dr. Madeline Mackie is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology in the Sociology department at Weber State University whose research focuses on understanding the lives of the original inhabitants of Western North American. Currently, Dr. Mackie is investigating a nearly 13,000-year-old mammoth butchery site that includes a camp where the entire community lived. Her research allows us to create a much more humanistic picture of the past including an understanding of diet, resource sharing, cooperation and mobility rather than the hunting focused imagery that that often dominates historic reconstructions. Dr. Mackie is a thought leader in her field whose voice is in high demand. Since coming to WSU last year, she has co-authored five peer-reviewed publications, been invited to three different guest lectures to various professional and avocational organizations, been interviewed for an article in Archaeology Magazine as well as for an episode of Ancient Yellowstone, and has been a featured guest on the podcast, A Life in Ruins. Dr. Mackie is also defining what it means to bring high impact educational experiences to the classroom by planning on involving her students in her field work - giving them practical experience to the concepts studied in the classroom. Dr. Mackie is budding pioneer in both research and the classroom.