Category: Fred C. Davison Early-Career Scholar Award

Cassandra Hall, assistant professor in the Franklin College Department of Physics and Astronomy, is an emerging leader in computational astrophysics whose research bridges planet formation, astrobiology, and artificial intelligence. Her work focuses on understanding how planets form within young circumstellar disks—particularly through gravitational instability, a long-debated process that has proven difficult to test observationally. Using high-resolution numerical simulations, Hall generated predictions for physical signatures produced through gravitational instability that were later confirmed by observations of the AB Aurigae system, providing some of the strongest evidence to date that gravitational instability can directly produce giant planets. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers, including work in  Nature, and her research has been featured in The New York Times. Hall has secured more than $1 million in funding as principal investigator and over $3 million in total research support. She is a National Geographic Explorer and the recipient of the Royal Astronomical Society’s Winton Early Career Award. 

Amy Winter, assistant professor in the College of Public Health, is an epidemiologist whose research uses mathematical and simulation-based models to inform global vaccination policy. A central contribution of her research is analyses conducted through the Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium, in which Winter evaluated rubella vaccine introduction scenarios across 19 countries. Her findings demonstrated that longstanding World Health Organization guidelines—requiring 80% measles vaccine coverage prior to rubella vaccine introduction—were unnecessarily restrictive. By showing that rubella vaccine introduction would not increase the burden of congenital rubella syndrome in these countries, her work provided strong evidence for expanding vaccine access. These results informed deliberations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and contributed to revised global recommendations that will allow more than 200 million children access to the rubella vaccine. Achieving this level of policy impact at an early career stage reflects Winter’s exceptional research influence in infectious disease epidemiology. 

Fred C. Davison Early Career Scholar Award 2025

Kelly Hines, assistant professor in the Franklin College Department of Chemistry, is advancing bioanalytical chemistry through innovative applications of mass spectrometry. Her research integrates ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) with multi-omics approaches to investigate antibiotic resistance at the molecular level. By developing high-throughput analytical techniques, Hines is uncovering how bacterial lipid composition influences resistance mechanisms, offering new insights for diagnostics and therapeutics. Her work has earned national recognition, including the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Research Award and designation as a Rising Star in Measurement Science by the American Chemical Society. She has published over 35 peer-reviewed articles, secured a $2.3 million NIH R01 grant, and contributed as a co-investigator on multiple NIH and NSF projects. With ongoing research into host-pathogen lipid interactions and translational applications in clinical microbiology, Hines is poised to make lasting contributions to analytical chemistry and infectious disease research.

Fred C. Davison Early Career Scholar Award 2025

Matthew Bilskie, assistant professor in the College of Engineering, is advancing the field of coastal resilience through innovative modeling of storm surge, flood risk, and nature-based infrastructure. As head of the college’s Coastal Ocean Analysis and Simulation Team and an affiliate of the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, he develops high-resolution hydrodynamic models that inform risk reduction strategies for vulnerable coastal communities. Bilskie’s research integrates engineering, computer science, and natural resource economics, providing critical insights into how tidal dynamics, sea-level rise, and climate change impact coastal flooding. His collaborations with the U.S. Marine Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have led to real-world applications, including flood mitigation planning for military installations. With over $32 million in research funding, 53 peer-reviewed publications, and leadership in interdisciplinary resilience efforts, Bilskie is at the forefront of shaping coastal adaptation strategies. His work continues to influence both policy and engineering solutions for climate resilience.

Fred C. Davison Early Career Scholar Award 2025

Christopher Cleveland, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is advancing wildlife disease research through a One Health approach that integrates ecology, epidemiology, and parasitology. His work focuses on zoonotic parasite transmission, vectors, and the surveillance of pathogens in wildlife. His research has provided critical insights into how environmental and wildlife factors contribute to the persistence of parasitic diseases, influencing both public health and conservation strategies. Cleveland has published 34 peer-reviewed articles since 2020, with 14 as first or corresponding author, and has secured over $1.4 million in research funding as principal investigator. He has mentored numerous graduate, undergraduate, and veterinary students, contributing to workforce development in wildlife health. A leader in his field, Cleveland has held presidential roles in professional societies, organized international research workshops, and serves as associate editor for the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, positioning him for continued impact in wildlife disease ecology and global health.

Fred C. Davison Early Career Scholar Award

Chester Joyner, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is integrating molecular biology, immunology, and vaccine development to develop new therapies needed to treat and prevent malaria. His work addresses some of the biggest challenges in the field by studying Plasmodium vivax dormancy in the liver, investigating why malaria infections fail to generate long-lived immune responses and leading the preclinical testing of an innovative vaccine strategy that counteracts the parasite’s ability to inhibit development of such long-lived immunity. Through these studies, his lab has overcome one of malaria’s greatest challenges—the inability to genetically manipulate P. vivax in the lab—developing novel techniques to introduce genetic modifications into the parasite and opening new avenues for biology and vaccinology. Joyner has secured over $7.3 million in research funding, authored 30 peer-reviewed publications, and been invited to share his work at major international conferences. His work is helping to guide the future of malaria treatment and eradication strategies.