2026-2027 Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentorship & Distinguished Early-Career Faculty Award for Research

Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD, Associate Professor in the Departments of Physiology & Biophysics and Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences was recently named the 2026-2027 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentorship. The Senate confers this award on a faculty member who has made significant contributions to the university through mentorship. Dr. Skowronska-Krawczyk was recognized for building transformative mentorship programs for students and faculty, her leadership in creating inclusive research programs for underrepresented students, and her advocacy for women in science through institutional initiatives, national panels, and mentorship networks that expand access and cultivate scientific talent across multiple levels.

Audrone Lapinaite, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences has been named the 2026-2027 recipient of the Distinguished Early-Career Faculty Award for Research. The Senate awards this recognition on a faculty member who has made significant contributions to scholarship through sustained, distinguished research. Dr. Lapinaite’s work is helping to define the future of precision medicine. Through a combination of structural biology, biochemistry, and genome engineering, she is advancing a new generation of genome- and RNA-editing technologies and reshaping how the field understands the molecular mechanisms that govern editing efficiency, specificity, and outcomes. 

These awards reflect the extraordinary talent, dedication, and impact of our faculty. Please join me in celebrating Dr. Skowronska-Krawczyk and Dr. Lapinaite on these outstanding achievements and in thanking them for their continued contributions to our department, our students, and the broader scientific community.

Congratulations, Dorota and Audrey, on these well-earned honors!