Three Washington State University students from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences received Fulbright awards, earning opportunities to conduct research, teach, and engage in cultural exchange abroad. The recognition highlights WSU’s commitment to global learning, academic excellence, and international engagement.
Washington State University researchers developed a genetic technique that transfers nitrogen-fixing genes into bacteria that previously could not harvest nitrogen. The breakthrough could help reduce fertilizer dependence in major crops by enabling beneficial microbes to provide plants with a natural source of nitrogen.
Washington State University researchers found that graphic anti-smoking warnings may unintentionally encourage some smokers to view vaping more favorably when e-cigarettes carry less prominent health warnings. The study highlights how inconsistent messaging across tobacco products can influence perceptions and public health outcomes.
A Washington State University study provides a realistic assessment of the future of sustainable aviation fuel, examining the economic, environmental, and supply chain challenges associated with scaling production. The research offers insights into pathways that could support aviation decarbonization while highlighting barriers facing widespread industry adoption.
Washington State University alumni are advancing hydrogen-powered agriculture through CryoCowboys, a startup developing on-farm hydrogen systems to support cleaner energy solutions. The work explores how farms could generate and use their own renewable fuel for agricultural operations.
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture names outstanding faculty and staff
May 22, 2026
By Communications staff, Washington State University
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A group photo of Voiland College outstanding faculty and staff.
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture outstanding faculty and staff (photo by Robert Hubner, WSU Photo Services).
Washington State University Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture recognized outstanding faculty and staff at its annual convocation ceremony and celebration on May 14.
Anjan Bose Outstanding Researcher Award
Anamika Dubey
Anamika Dubey’s work redefines how modern electric power systems are designed, operated, and made resilient in the face of rapid electrification, decarbonization, and extreme weather events. She is an internationally recognized leader in power and energy systems research, known for her pioneering work on grid resilience, distributed energy resources, and data‑driven decision‑making for utilities. Her research has introduced new frameworks for understanding and mitigating outage risks, and for developing scalable solutions that directly influence utility practice and real‑world grid operations.
In addition to her substantial research contributions — including an extensive record of high‑impact publications, major competitive funding from agencies such as the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, and strong collaborations with national laboratories and industry — Dubey is also a dedicated mentor and educator. She has guided a large and successful community of graduate students and played a key role in building collaborative programs that connect research to societal impact.
Junior Faculty Research Award
Yan Yan
Yan Yan’s work addresses one of the most critical challenges facing modern AI systems today: how to design models whose predictions can be trusted when deployed in high‑stakes, real‑world environments such as healthcare, agriculture, water resource management, and cybersecurity.
Yan has authored or co‑authored more than 30 papers in top‑tier journals and conferences, earned thousands of research citations, and secured more than $2 million in external research funding, including a prestigious NSF CAREER Award as sole principal investigator.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Yan is widely praised as a dedicated mentor and educator. He has built a rigorous and supportive research group, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students who are publishing in highly competitive venues and pursuing impactful careers.
Reid Miller Excellence in Teaching Award (tenure track)
Ananth Kalyanaraman
Ananth Kalyanaraman is widely known for creating classrooms that are rigorous, engaging, and deeply student‑centered. Nominators emphasize his exceptional ability to make complex material accessible, to invite students into the learning process as active thinkers, and to connect foundational theory to real‑world applications that shape students’ academic and professional paths. One nominator wrote, “Their class felt like a conversation rather than a one‑way lecture, and that made it a lot easier to stay engaged.”
Reid Miller Excellence in Teaching Award (career track)
David Thiessen
David Thiessen is widely recognized for a teaching approach that emphasizes learning by doing. His courses and laboratories are built around hands‑on experimentation, clear structure, and constant feedback — helping students move from theory to practice with confidence. Students describe him as approachable, patient, and deeply invested in their success, whether they are struggling with a concept or ready to push further. His innovative learning modules, simulations, and lab experiences are now used by students and faculty at institutions across the country.
Safety Award
Jacob Leachman
Jacob Leachman is widely recognized as a leader in research safety, particularly in hydrogen systems, where the risks are complex and the margin for error is small. His nominators describe his approach as one that does not treat safety as an afterthought, but as a foundational part of research design and student training. As the founder and director of the HYPER Laboratory, he has embedded safety deeply into every stage of experimentation. Students in his lab are trained not only to conduct advanced research, but to analyze hazards, anticipate failure modes, and understand the systems they are working with at a professional level. These practices have become a model for other laboratories at WSU and are now being adopted at institutions across the country.
Rookie of the Year Award (faculty)
Asma Jodeiri Akbarfam
In her first year at WSU Tri‑Cities, Asma Jodeiri Akbarfam has quickly distinguished herself as an innovative educator, dedicated mentor, and emerging scholar in cybersecurity and distributed systems. She taught multiple courses — many for the first time — designing new instructional materials and implementing an engaging flipped‑classroom model that emphasizes hands‑on learning, collaborative problem‑solving, and real‑world cybersecurity applications. She has also played a key role in building an inclusive and supportive academic community. She founded the Women in Cybersecurity chapter at WSU Tri‑Cities, creating new pathways for mentorship, professional development, and community engagement. Through this work and her broader service, she has helped connect students to industry networks, internships, and research opportunities that support their academic and career goals.
Rookie of the Year Award (staff)
Abi Cochrane
Abi Cochrane joined the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in early 2025 and has become an indispensable member of the team. Her nominators describe her as highly dependable, self‑directed, and consistently willing to step in wherever support is needed. Whether coordinating major, high‑visibility events, managing complex administrative processes, or supporting faculty, staff, and students behind the scenes, she approaches each task with care, precision, and a positive spirit. Beyond her technical skills, she is recognized for bringing warmth, energy, and a collaborative mindset to her role, strengthening the sense of community within EECS and across the college. Her contributions have already had a lasting impact, and her trajectory points to continued leadership and excellence.
Staff Spirit Award
Smitha Bose
Smitha Bose serves as the Graduate Student Coordinator for the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, where she supports a large and diverse graduate student population across multiple campuses. Her nominators consistently describe her as the heart of the graduate program — someone students, faculty, and staff rely on for guidance, clarity, and reassurance.
She plays a central role in supporting student success and belonging. From admissions through graduation, she helps students navigate complex academic requirements, university policies, and administrative processes with patience, precision, and genuine care. Many graduate students — particularly international students — cite Bose as their first point of support when they feel overwhelmed or uncertain. She listens, explains, and takes action, often going well beyond what is required to ensure students feel informed and supported.
North Star Awards
Bridget Pilcher and Gwen Miller
Bridget Pilcher serves as senior director of development and her leadership has had a transformative impact on the college’s people, programs, and places. Her nominators describe her as a steady and trusted presence — someone who brings clarity, warmth, and strategic vision to every interaction. She is widely recognized for her ability to build authentic relationships and align philanthropic goals with the long‑term mission of the college. Under her guidance, the development team has strengthened donor partnerships and achieved ambitious goals while remaining grounded in shared values. Pilcher leads with both purpose and heart, ensuring that the work we do remains people‑centered and mission‑driven. Her leadership was especially evident in the early visioning and continued success of Schweitzer Engineering Hall, where her ability to bring stakeholders together, maintain momentum, and center decisions on student impact helped turn possibility into reality.
Gwen Miller serves as the administrative manager for the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Her nominators describe her as the steady center of operations — someone whose leadership ensures that complex systems run smoothly and that people feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. Under her leadership, teams perform at a high level not out of pressure, but because they feel trusted, guided, and encouraged to grow. What truly distinguishes Miller is her commitment to people. She leads with empathy and integrity, mentors those around her, and consistently models the values that make our college a place where individuals and teams can flourish.
Staff Excellence Awards
Sarah Dossey and Kurt Janzen
Sarah Dossey serves as a fiscal specialist in the Composite Materials and Engineering Center (CMEC), where her work has become foundational to the success of faculty, staff, and students. Her nominators describe her as exceptionally dependable, detail‑oriented, and deeply committed to helping others succeed — often through work that happens behind the scenes but makes an extraordinary difference. Colleagues consistently note her warmth, patience, and willingness to help anyone who comes to her with a question. She is often the first person new students encounter, and her kindness and clarity set the tone for a welcoming and supportive experience. Beyond her technical excellence, she helps build community. She fosters an environment of trust, respect, and positivity, contributing to a workplace where people feel supported and valued. Her reliability and genuine care have made her a cornerstone of CMEC and a trusted resource across the college.
Kurt Janzen serves as an engineering technician supporting the mechanical engineering program, where he plays a vital role in both instructional and technical operations. His nominators describe him as a trusted resource whose deep technical expertise and hands‑on instructional support greatly enhance the student learning experience. Over the past year, he has taken on responsibilities well beyond his formal position. He has served as a primary instructor in multiple laboratory courses, ensured that equipment and facilities meet the highest safety and quality standards, and stepped in seamlessly during staffing shortages to maintain continuity for students and faculty. His willingness to absorb additional duties — while maintaining accuracy, safety, and professionalism — has made a significant difference at a critical time. Heis also deeply committed to students. He supports lab courses, senior design projects, and student clubs with patience and enthusiasm, creating an environment where students feel encouraged to explore, ask questions, and build confidence in their abilities. Colleagues and students describe him as approachable, dependable, and genuinely invested in student success.
Employee of the Year Award
Ben Weller
Ben Weller has brought an extraordinary level of expertise, reliability, and professionalism to one of the most complex areas of our operation — research administration and fiscal management. His nominators emphasize that he handles an exceptionally high volume of work with remarkable accuracy, often under tight and shifting deadlines, while maintaining complete trust with faculty and leadership. In the past year, he supported more than 80 research proposals and managed millions of dollars in research expenditures, all while streamlining processes, and improving service quality. Faculty consistently describe him as a trusted partner — someone who anticipates needs, explains complex processes clearly, and ensures proposals and awards move forward smoothly.
Washington State University researcher Nghia Hoang received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to advance artificial intelligence systems and machine learning technologies. The award recognizes early-career faculty with strong potential for leadership in science and engineering innovation.
Washington State University researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine found a high prevalence of Sin Nombre hantavirus in rodent populations across parts of the Pacific Northwest. The study improves understanding of virus transmission and supports future public health surveillance efforts.
Washington State University researchers from the College of Arts and Sciences received new Meyer’s Point grants to support interdisciplinary environmental research and field-based learning. The projects advance work in coastal resilience, biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge systems, and sustainable land use.
Washington State University researchers from the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences launched a free AgWeatherNet app that provides local weather data and agriculture decision-support tools. The app delivers site-specific forecasts to support growers, livestock producers, and the public across Washington.
Bin Yang, a scientist pioneering renewable fuels at Washington State University’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering, was highlighted by Fulbright France for his work advancing renewable fuels, sustainable bioeconomy development, and global energy security.
Washington State University landscape architecture students partnered with the Columbia River community to develop design concepts addressing housing, infrastructure, river health, and economic development challenges. The project provided students with hands-on experience in community-centered design and planning.
Three Washington State University neuroscience students received the Peter A. Zornes Memorial Scholarship for outstanding achievements, research engagement, and commitment to advancing neuroscience. The scholarship honors the legacy of former WSU student Peter Zornes and supports future leaders in the field.
Washington State University bioengineering students partnered with medical students to develop prototype medical training devices that simulate real clinical scenarios, including airway management, laparoscopic surgery, and vital sign monitoring. The interdisciplinary project gives students hands-on experience while improving medical education and patient care training.
WSU engineering students in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture and the WSU School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering developed a charge management system for Washington State Ferries’ electrification project. The student-designed technology will help regulate charging and safety systems for hybrid-electric ferries, supporting Washington’s transition to a cleaner and more sustainable ferry fleet.
Washington State University researchers received a patent for a flexible microscope design that can adapt to curved and hard-to-reach surfaces. The innovation could enhance biomedical imaging, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical research by enabling high-resolution visualization in challenging environments.
WSU researchers in the College of Veterinary Medicine are leading efforts to combat a deadly pneumonia that continues to threaten bighorn sheep populations across the western United States. The research aims to better understand disease transmission and support long-term recovery and conservation of wild sheep herds.
Researchers in the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences identified the first known signaling pathway involved in plant cell wall formation, revealing how cells initiate wall development and transport nutrient-rich materials. The findings could support future advances in plant systems and biofuel production.
Washington State University researchers developed a model that predicts how transmission towers may fail during extreme wind events. The framework could help utilities identify vulnerable infrastructure, reduce outage risks, and improve power grid resilience.
