Category: Non-Tenure Track Faculty Award

René Ranzinger, associate research scientist in the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, is recognized for a sustained and influential research program advancing the analysis and interpretation of complex carbohydrate structures. His work focuses on developing computational tools and informatics frameworks that enable researchers to characterize glycans and glycoproteins—molecules essential to processes ranging from cell signaling to immune response. Ranzinger has played a central role in the development of GlyGen, an integrated knowledge base for glycan and glycoprotein data, and the GRITS Toolbox, a suite of analytical tools for interpreting glycomics mass spectrometry data. These projects provide critical infrastructure for the glycoscience community, supporting data integration, standardization, data sharing, and large-scale analysis across laboratories worldwide. By translating complex experimental results into accessible, interoperable formats, Ranzinger’s work accelerates discovery across chemistry, biology, and biomedical research. Through extensive collaboration, peer-reviewed publication, and long-term external support, his contributions have strengthened the global research ecosystem underlying carbohydrate science. 

Non-Tenure Track Faculty Research Excellence Award 2025

Scott Pippin, public service associate in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, is a leader in applied research on community resilience, environmental policy, and infrastructure planning. He founded the Defense Community Resilience Program, a multidisciplinary initiative that strengthens military installations and surrounding communities through data-driven planning and policy strategies. His work has secured over $7.6 million in federally funded projects and has been instrumental in developing two 10-year Intergovernmental Support Agreements with the U.S. Army, totaling over $100 million in authorized funding. Pippin’s applied research has shaped policies on transportation networks, wastewater infrastructure, and flood resilience, influencing federal and state decision-making. His peer-reviewed publications, law review articles, and national presentations have earned recognition from the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Defense. A recipient of the Walter Barnard Hill Award for Distinguished Achievement in Public Service and Outreach, Pippin continues to advance impactful solutions for resilient communities.

Non-Tenure Track Faculty Research Excellence Award 2025

Jennifer Thompson, associate research scientist in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is a leader in research on the social sustainability of agriculture and food systems. Her interdisciplinary and community-engaged scholarship advances knowledge and practice on the human dimensions of climate-smart agriculture, community food systems, and food systems education. Over her career, Thompson has secured funding on projects totaling over $105 million, including $7.5 million to UGA and over $3 million directly supporting her lab. As the lead social scientist on major USDA-funded sustainable agricultural projects, Thompson’s commitment to farmer engagement is producing unique insights that inform policy and outreach. An internationally recognized scholar, she has conducted research in France, Norway, Spain, and across the United States, publishing in top-tier journals. As a research mentor and past president of the Society for the Anthropology of Food and Nutrition, Thompson fosters the future of sustainable agriculture and food systems scholarship.