Claudio Saunt

on March 2, 2016

University of Georgia researcher Claudio SauntDistinguished Research Professor 2017

Claudio Saunt, Richard B. Russell Professor in American History, has made tremendous contributions to the fields of early American, Native American and digital history, and to understanding the complexities of our world. He is among an elite cohort of historians who have gained scholarly and public attention for their inclusive, continental approaches to American history, and his perspectives permeate virtually all new historical scholarship. Saunt has published three award-winning books, but his belief that history is not merely for academicians has also guided his expansion into the digital world, including creating an online presence for American history. One of the first scholars to recognize the value and possibilities of digital technology, he has used mega-data to create highly demonstrative digital mapping and interactive projects that reconstruct changing American population dynamics, land cessions, disease and Native demography. His forthcoming book, Aboriginia: Mass Deportation and the Road to Indian Territory, is anticipated to become the leading history of Indian Removal.

Previous Award

  • Creative Research Medal 2006

Allen Moore

on February 24, 2016

University of Georgia researcher Allen MooreLamar Dodd Creative Research Award 2017

Allen Moore, Distinguished Research Professor of Genetics, is an evolutionary behavior geneticist who conducts research on the genetics of sociality using insects, which have often played key roles in elucidating the evolution of social behavior. His work combines theoretical and statistical approaches to tackle evolutionarily important problems in behavior, and then brings the full arsenal of modern molecular techniques to dissect the underlying mechanisms. Moore has selected his insect systems in a way that allows him to manipulate experimentally varied social behaviors, including aggression, mating, altruism, and notably, parental care. In his latest advance, Moore uses genomic approaches to understand complex behavioral traits in burying beetles. His work will test the importance of specific genes in determining differences between care provided by mothers and fathers, and between single parents and biparental teams. It may open the doors to understanding pathways of gene interaction both within parents and between parents and offspring.

Previous Award

  • Distinguished Research Professor 2014