2024 UGA Research Awards

Congratulations to the many Franklin College faculty members who were recognized this week at the 45th annual University of Georgia Research Awards. Our departments, programs and institutes were well-represented with a range of creative investigations across the full breadth of disciplines and professorial rank, including Early Career Scholar Award winners, all four from the Franklin College:

Established by the UGA Research Foundation, these awards recognize junior faculty whose research, creative and scholarly achievements indicate a trajectory toward an exceptional, sustained research career and an imminent rise to international stature in their field of study.

• Drew Abney, assistant professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ psychology department, is a leader in developmental and cognitive science. He studies how behaviors and social interactions affect developmental trajectories through infancy and into toddlerhood.

• Pengpeng Bi, assistant professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ genetics department and Center for Molecular Medicine, has contributed to understanding the molecular mechanisms of muscle development and regeneration.

• Amanda Frossard, assistant professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ chemistry department, has developed new techniques to study the ocean surface and marine aerosol production through a combination of field and laboratory studies.

• James Naigus, assistant professor of horn at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, seeks to inspire the next generation of musicians and creative thinkers through artistic empowerment and enthusiastic innovation.

Extraordinary work by our colleagues. Read more on the full roster of 2024 awardees.