Noteworthy: Research grants, awards and publications

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 31, 2023) — The latest developments on University at Albany faculty and staff who are receiving research grants, awards and other noteworthy attention.

• Katharine Briar-Lawson, dean emeritus and professor at the School of Social Welfare, was recognized by journalist Silas Kelly for her mentorship and contribution to his podcast series “Raise the Wage.” The podcast episode featuring Briar-Lawson won first place in the “Solutions Journalism” category of the Press Club of Long Island’s 2023 media awards.
• James Boswell, associate professor of psychology and graduate program director, was featured in an American Psychological Association (APA) “Spotlight” article titled “It is time for a measurement-based care professional practice guideline in psychology,” discussing his recent article in the APA journal Psychotherapy addressing the importance of routinely measuring patient progress to improve psychological care in clinical settings.
• The Center for Technology in Government named two new faculty fellows: Jason D’Cruz, associate professor of Philosophy, and Archana Krishnan, associate professor of Communication. D’Cruz, an expert on ethics, moral psychology and trustworthiness, is principal investigator of a SUNY-IBM research alliance grant on “AI Trustworthiness from a User Perspective.” Krishnan, whose expertise is in communication technology and new media, conducts research on computer-mediated communication, mHealth and global public health. CTG UAlbany's 25 faculty fellows provide expertise in research, public service, government and industry.
• Associate Professor of Philosophy Kristen Hessler’s new book, Feminist Human Rights: A Political Approach, was published by Rowman & Littlefield. The book focuses on a case study from the international criminal tribunals for war crimes against women in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, emphasizing how human rights activism and adjudication can both reveal and dismantle unjust social hierarchies.
• Distinguished Librarian Trudi E. Jacobson has been honored along with Thomas P. Mackey of Empire State University with the 2024 Divergent Publication Award for Excellence in Literacy in a Digital Age Research for their book, Metaliteracy in a Connected World: Developing Learners as Producer.
• Distinguished Professor of Sociology Zai Liang was elected to the Sociological Research Association (SRA) during the annual meetings of the American Sociological Association in Philadelphia earlier this month. SRA members are chosen solely on the basis of excellence in research. Liang also was named chair-elect of the International Migration Section of the American Sociological Association.
• Marilyn Masson, professor and chair of Anthropology, was awarded $295,743 from the National Science Foundation for an archeological project researching the various ways that indigenous Mayan communities in the Yucatan met the onset of early Spanish rule in the 1500s.
• Associate Professor Robert L. Miller Jr., School of Social Welfare, was awarded $166,008 from Gilead Sciences Inc. to support his project “The Discernment Process of HIV+ Black gay men considering long-acting HIV Treatment.” The study will collect narrative data from Black gay men living with HIV on their experiences with health care, medication adherence and perceptions of long-acting HIV medications. The study also will examine the life history narratives of such men living with the virus for 25 years or more.
• Associate Professor of Psychology Cynthia Najdowski received the 2023 Mid-Career Award for Outstanding Work in Child Maltreatment, presented by the American Psychological Association Section on Child Maltreatment. The award recognizes significant contributions in science, policy and practice that benefit the psychological functioning or well-being of children, youth and families. Nadjowski’s current research focuses on how stereotyping contributes to medical misdiagnosis of child abuse, jurors’ ability to accurately evaluate juveniles’ confessions, and policies concerning adolescents who commit sex offenses.
• Brian Tang, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, has been sponsored by NASA headquarters for a total of $225,000 through July, 2026, for a project to use airborne and satellite observations to examine ventilation in tropical cyclones.