USC Dornsife News Briefs

Hanna Damasio, University Professor, professor of psychology and neurology, and Dana Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience, and Antonio Damasio, University Professor, professor of psychology, philosophy and neurology, and David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience, were honored with the Neuropsychology Global Ambassador Award at the first Global Neuropsychology Congress in Porto, Portugal. This prestigious award acknowledges their exceptional achievements and enduring influence on global neuroscience research and education. The Damasios' groundbreaking research has significantly advanced the understanding of brain processes underlying affect, decision-making, consciousness and language.

Natalia Molina, Distinguished Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity and Dean’s Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity, was awarded a Southern California Journalism Award by the Los Angeles Press Club for her poignant opinion piece, “How I learned the Los Angeles Dodgers are L.A.’s language of love," published Aug. 20, 2023 in the Los Angeles Times. Her piece highlights her insightful contribution to the evolving narrative of cultural identity and sports journalism in L.A. The award recognizes outstanding journalism while promoting diversity and excellence across various media platforms in Southern California.

Postdoctoral Scholar Ashim Nandi has been selected to participate in the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting as a Mars Fellow.

In a new study, PhD student Daniel Aslan sheds light on the optimal degree of forward lean for runners who want to save energy.

Nayan Shah, professor of American studies and ethnicity and history, has been elected a member of the Society of American Historians. Membership in the society serves as testament to the literary excellence demonstrated in a scholar’s portrayal and analysis of American history, and this recognition celebrates Shah’s exceptional narrative prowess and the scholarly distinction in his historical work.

Joan Flores-Villalobos, assistant professor of history, has received the 2024 David Montgomery Award from the Organization of American Historians (OAH) for her book The Silver Women: How Black Women’s Labor Made the Panama Canal (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023). Silver Women illuminates the oft-overlooked contributions of Black West Indian women to the construction of the Panama Canal. OAH, the largest professional organization dedicated to U.S. history, recognized Flores-Villalobos fo her contribution to scholarship and historical discourse.

Laura Melissa Guzman, Gabilan Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and Quantitative and Computational Biology, has been named a 2024 Fellow of the Ecological Society of America. The society’s fellowship program – which includes fellows and early career fellows – recognizes contributions its members make to ecological research, communication, education, management and policy. Guzman, whose research intertwines statistical methodologies, ecological principles and empirical endeavors to unravel the intricacies of biodiversity decline, is among 10 new early career fellows elected for advancing the science of ecology and showing promise for continuing contributions.

Greta Panova, Gabilan Distinguished Professor in Science and Engineering and professor of mathematics, has been named a 2024 Fellow in Mathematics by the Simons Foundation. Renowned for her expertise in combinatorics, probability and theoretical computer science, Panova’s selection underscores her exceptional contributions to the field. The Simons Fellows program extends academic leaves from one term to a full year, aiming to enable recipients to focus solely on research for the long periods often necessary for significant advances.

Duncan Ryuken Williams, director of the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture and professor of religion, American studies and ethnicity and East Asian languages and cultures, was honored with an Award of Excellence by the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) at its annual gala on April 6 for his “pioneering work on the Irei project, a monumental initiative that honors Japanese American World War II incarcarees and promotes global peace.”