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Provost's Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor Program

The Provost's Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor Program supports tenure-track faculty who have recently been appointed to the rank of associate professor with tenure. The program acknowledges and rewards scholarly, teaching and serving excellence.

Deans may nominate up to two faculty per cycle. Nominating units determine their own processes for selecting nominees, but nominations should be confidential and candidates should be evaluated by faculty who themselves possess distinguished academic records. 

Eligible faculty must have been promoted to associate professor within the past three years. The program is seeking candidates who:

  • Are outstanding scholars with strong achievements in teaching and service
  • Serve as role models for other faculty
  • Inspire students in the classroom or other learning environments
  • Demonstrate commitment to service

Nominations will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary faculty committee. Selected candidates are considered among the most gifted midcareer faculty members within the university.

Program Overview

This cycle, approximately six scholars will be chosen as Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors. Selected scholars will:

  • Be designated a Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor for three years
  • Receive supplemental compensation and an annual stipend to flexibly advance their scholarship
  • Have one semester without teaching during three-year period in addition to any existing release

Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors will also form a cohort and participate in social and professional development activities organized by the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).

Nomination Process

Deans must submit the following items to facultyaffairs@osu.edu with “Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor Nomination” as the subject line:

  • Cover letter from the dean (1,000 words or fewer) that includes a summary of the nominee’s achievements and a description of the unit’s selection process. The letter should address: 
    • Research and creative expression: an assessment of the breadth and importance of the nominee's scholarly work relative to their peers, the impact on the discipline or society, and evidence of substantial national or international recognition that argues for future recognition at the highest levels and enhances Ohio State's reputation. 
    • Teaching: outstanding contributions in the classroom or other learning environments with a particular focus on novel course content, student mentoring and/or addressing traditionally underrepresented populations.
    • Service: exceptional internal and/or external service and contributes to the institution, the nominee's field, local, state, national and/or international communities.
    • The successful candidate should meet excellence in all three, and must showcase excellence in research and creative expression, specifically. Additionally, please include information about plans for the college to nominate the candidate for external awards.
  • Nominee’s current curriculum vitae (CV)
  • List of significant previous awards, separate from the CV

Nominations are due January 17, 2025.

Questions?

Please contact Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Patrick Louchouarn (louchouarn.1@osu.edu).

Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors 2025 Cohort

Jessica Cooperstone

Department of Horticulture and Crop Science 
Department of Food Science and Technology 
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences 

Through an interdisciplinary approach, Jessica Cooperstone utilizes targeted and untargeted metabolomics techniques to understand how plant compounds can affect human nutrition and health, and ultimately the breeding and management of crops. Her work has been recognized widely for its impact and innovation, garnering the 2019 Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research New Innovator Award. Cooperstone is also the Food for Health faculty program lead for food and crop improvement. 


Asimina Kiourti

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 
College of Engineering 

Asimina Kiourti leads the Wearable and Implantable Technologies group, which conducts interdisciplinary research at theintersection of bioelectromagnetics, sensors and medicine. Through active collaborations with several Ohio State colleges, Nationwide Childrens Hospital and other academic and industrial partners, Kiourti and her team are developing wearables and implants that set new standards for seamless integration, advanced capabilities and performance. She is also a faculty affiliate with the Chronic Brain Injury Program. 


Rachel Kopec

Department of Human Sciences 
College of Education and Human Ecology 

Rachel Kopec’s research focuses on using metabolomics-based approaches to improve the bioavailability and metabolism of lipid-soluble bioactive compounds. Through groundbreaking work in generating plant-derived heme iron and nanoparticle-encapsulated beta-carotene, her research has the potential to significantly reduce the prevalence of iron and vitamin A deficiency, which together affect millions of people worldwide. Kopec is also the Food for Health faculty program lead for precision nutrition. 


Matthew Grizzard

School of Communication 
College of Arts and Sciences 

Situated within media psychology and mass communication, Matthew Grizzard’s research explores how people make moral judgments when engaging with popular media, particularly narratives. He investigates how audiences morally evaluate characters; how these judgments are relative and shaped by narrative context; and how such processes help explain real-world phenomena like polarization and Schadenfreude. 


Tasleem J. Padamsee

Division of Health Services Management and Policy 
College of Public Health 

Tasleem J. Padamsee’s recent research includes a multi-method study exploring how diverse individuals at high risk for breast cancer make prevention choices and the impact on their health. Using theoretical and methodological tools from sociology, Padamsee’s research offers valuable insights to expand academic and clinical knowledge and approaches to their care. She is also a member of the Cancer Control Research program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and co-director of the college’s Undergraduate Honors Program. 


Catherine Quatman-Yates

Division of Physical Therapy 
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 
College of Medicine 

Catherine Quatman-Yates’ research focuses on empowering safe, active lifestyles across the lifespan. With more than 75 publications and numerous national presentations, she is a leader in health services and implementation research. She co-founded the community-based Fall Intervention Team, a model for addressing fall prevention with first responders, clinicians and community stakeholders and serves as a leader for the college’s Learning Health Systems Collaborative. In 2021, she received the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Outstanding Young Scholar Award and its Faculty Teaching Award.


 

Award archive

2024 Cohort

Stephanie Di Stasi

Division of Physical Therapy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
College of Medicine


Brian Foster

Division of Biosciences
College of Dentistry


Emmanuel Hatzakis

Department of Food Science and Technology
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences


Jasmeet Hayes

Department of Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences


Steffen Lindert

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Arts and Sciences


Kelly Purtell

Department of Human Sciences
College of Education and Human Ecology


John Rehbeck

Department of Economics
College of Arts and Sciences


Mary Rodriguez

Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences


Elissa Washuta

Department of English
College of Arts and Sciences


Jiangjiang (Chris) Zhu

Department of Human Sciences
College of Education and Human Ecology
Comprehensive Cancer Center