WISH Members Earn Prestigious Honors

Three women smile for a photo, standing against a backdrop printed with the name “AIMBE” in purple, with a collection of science-related words in very faint print. To their left is a pull-up poster that says “AIMBE American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering."
From left: Professor Melinda Larsen, Dean Michele Grimm, Professor Yubing Xie. (Photo provided)

Four Women in Science and Health members have been awarded prestigious honors in 2025. 

WISH is an organization of faculty at University at Albany that fosters scientific networking and provides skill-building opportunities for students, postdocs and faculty in the STEM fields to promote gender equality and work-life balance. Learn more about WISH's members.

Note: The organization is open to all regardless of sex, gender, race, color, national origin or other characteristic, and is consistent with federal and state nondiscrimination laws.

 

Melinda Larsen & Yubing Xie named Fellows of AIMBE

Dr. Melinda Larsen, Williams-Raycheff Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, and Dr. Yubing Xie, Professor of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering, were inducted as Fellows into the prestigious American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows.

This honor recognizes outstanding contributions to engineering and medical research and is among the highest distinctions in the field. Learn more about their induction. 

Dr. Larson, an expert in salivary gland biology and regenerative engineering, and Dr. Xie, a specialist in stem cell technology and tissue engineering, are collaborators on NIH-funded projects. They both serve on the WISH Steering Committee.

Three women smile for a photo. They are standing against a purple-lit backdrop printed with the name “AIMBE” (in purple) as well as a collection of science-related words in very faint print. The woman at left is wearing rimless glasses, a tan blazer and a black dress. The woman in the center is wearing a black blazer and black square rimmed glasses and is holding a certificate. The woman at right is wearing a red blazer and glasses with black circular rims.
From left: Jessica Zhang, chair, AIMBE College of Fellows; Professor Yubing Xie; Lola Eniola-Adefeso, AIMBE president. (Photo courtesy of AIMBE)
Three women smile for a photo. They are standing against a purple-lit backdrop printed with the name “AIMBE” (in purple) as well as a collection of science-related words in very faint print. The woman at left is wearing rimless glasses, a tan blazer and a black dress. The woman in the center is wearing a gray blazer and black slacks and is holding a certificate. The woman at right is wearing a red blazer and glasses with black circular rims.
From left: Jessica Zhang, chair, AIMBE College of Fellows; Professor Melinda Larsen; Lola Eniola-Adefeso, AIMBE president. (Photo courtesy of AIMBE)

Marina Petrukhina wins American Chemical Society award

Marina Petrukhina.
Dr. Marina Petrukhina

Dr. Marina Petrukhina, a Department of Chemistry faculty member and the Carla Rizzo Delray Professor of Chemistry, won the George A. Olah Award in Hydrocarbon or Petroleum Chemistry.

The honor is awarded by the American Chemical Society and supported by an endowed fund established by the Morris S. Smith Foundation and the Dow Chemical Company.

Dr. Petrukhina's research interests lie in inorganic, organometallic and materials chemistry. Marina has been a member of WISH since its inception.

 

 

Julia Hormes & Yubing Xie join SUNY Research Leadership Academy

Two WISH members are among the 30 faculty from across SUNY's 64 campuses invited to serve on the SUNY Research Leadership Academy:

  • Dr. Julia Hormes, Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research for the College of Arts and Sciences
  • Dr. Yubing Xie, Professor of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering

The Academy will include faculty whose work exemplifies excellence in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) research and leadership. 

This SUNY-wide initiative, led by Stony Brook University, empowers faculty to strengthen SUNY's research enterprise by engaging the public, driving innovation and championing inclusion across STEMM fields.

Both Dr. Hormes and Dr. Xie serve on the WISH Steering Committee.

Julia Hormes
Dr. Julia Hormes
Dr. Yubing Xie.
Dr. Yubing Xie