Six associate professors were recently chosen to participate in the next cohort of Provost’s Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors. The program supports tenure-track faculty who have recently been appointed to the rank of associate professor with tenure and who have demonstrated exceptional excellence in scholarship, teaching and service. The honorees were notified of their awards through surprise announcements led by senior university leaders.
“I congratulate this year’s cohort of Midcareer Scholars for their commitment to excellence in the classroom and through their innovative research across a range of disciplines,” said Ravi V. Bellamkonda, executive vice president and provost. “These tenure-track faculty members showcase the exceptional talent that is abundant among Ohio State’s professoriate.”
Jessica Cooperstone
Associate Professor
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
Associate Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering
Asimina Kiourti leads the Wearable and Implantable Technologies group, which conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of bioelectromagnetics, sensors and medicine. Through active collaborations with several Ohio State colleges, Nationwide Children’s 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
Associate Professor
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
Associate Professor
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
Associate Professor
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
Associate Professor
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.
Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors hold their designation for three years and receive supplemental compensation and an annual stipend from the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) to advance their scholarship. Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors also receive a one-semester teaching exemption. The cohort will participate in social and professional development activities organized by OAA. Eligible faculty must be within three years of having been promoted to associate professor.