IUPUI Professor Receives Lucrative Award

(Image courtesy of IUPUI)

The National Science Foundation has given one of its most prestigious awards to an IUPUI professor. Lisa Jones, an assistant professor of chemistry and chemical biology, has received the $1.1 million NSF CAREER Award.

The award will help fund Jones’ research into cell membrane proteins which is being done to better understand certain links to diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. The money will also support research training for undergraduate students from historically black colleges and universities, along with undergraduate and graduate students from IUPUI working in Jones’ laboratory.

"My goal is not only to teach students about research but also to provide them with information that I know from personal experience is generally lacking for underrepresented minorities in science," said Jones.

The funds will support career counseling for undergraduate and graduate students as well. The NSF says the award is given to those who "exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research."

"The beauty of Dr. Jones’ outstanding work is that it has double value: She herself solves important questions in medicine, and she develops important new tools for other biomedical researchers," said Simon J. Rhodes, dean of the School of Science at IUPUI. "In addition, her commitment to educating STEM graduates who will work in Indiana and across the nation is commendable."

Jones is the ninth current faculty member in the IUPUI School of Science to receive the award.