The University of Arizona Office of Research and Partnerships celebrated the 2026 Convergence Awards: Excellence in Research and Creative Activity winners at an awards ceremony on April 15. 

The Convergence Awards represent one of the University of Arizona’s highest recognitions for interdisciplinary research achievement, honoring the faculty, staff and external partners whose work exemplifies the university’s commitment to inquiry, innovation and societal impact. 

“You take science and creative endeavor to its extremes. You spread the boundaries. You educate our students and you impact our communities,” University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella said to the awardees during his opening remarks. “You really are the stars. I thank you for your curiosity, which leads to discovery, which leads to learning.” 

In addition to the awardees, their families, friends and colleagues, Arizona Board of Regents Chair Doug Goodyear and Regent Gregg Brewster attended the ceremony. Also among the more than 125 attendees was Antoine Petit, CEO of the French National Center for Scientific Research, or CNRS, a key research partner with the U of A in the France-Arizona Institute for Global Grand Challenges. 

“As I look across this room I see more than just artists and humanists and scientists. I see the future,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, U of A senior vice president for research and partnerships, as he began the ceremony. “We truly exist as a university to create those solutions that make the planet better for future generations. We have the power of technology, and we have the power of convergence. The DNA of excellence that is represented here and across the entire campus is unparalleled.”

The ceremony recognized faculty, staff and partnerships for excellence in advancing transformative research and elevating the U of A as a hub for addressing society’s most pressing challenges. Additionally, 29 early career faculty were presented with certificates of excellence recognizing prestigious national awards and fellowships they have received.

A full list of awardees with additional information is on the Office of Research and Partnerships website. 

Distinguished Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The two awards in this category celebrate those who have demonstrated significant involvement in expanding the impact of research to the public good through innovation and commercialization. These individuals are committed to promoting the translation of research to the benefit of society. This year’s awardees are:

University Distinguished Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Marvin Slepian, MD, Regents Professor, College of Medicine – Tucson and director of the Arizona Center for Accelerated Biomedical Innovation

University Distinguished Early Career Innovation and Entrepreneurship

George Sutphin, associate professor, College of Science

Excellence in Research Grants

This category recognizes U of A researchers who received a new grant greater than $3 million in 2025. The two honorees are:

Yao-Jan Wu, professor, College of Engineering — $5.2 million from the Arizona Department of Transportation to lead the Arizona Transportation Institute

Jason Denno, executive director of Cyber Convergence Center, College of Applied Science and Technology — $3 million from the BAE Systems for the U.S. Army Open-Source Intelligence Office, CyberApolis Proposal

Distinguished Partner in Research Award

This award honors two external partners who advance university research through strategic collaboration, shared resources or co-developed initiatives.

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, accepted by Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO of the CNRS

Canine Companions, accepted by Brenda Kennedy, DVM, chief veterinary and research officer

Excellence in Research Support

This award honors a full-time staff member for exceptional support of research, laboratories, centers and institutes or scholarly activities.

Robert Sandoval, manager of facilities and planning for the BIO5 Institute

Excellence in Arts

This award honors a faculty member whose outstanding artistic achievement engages communities and advances knowledge to advance the vital role of the arts in shaping the world.

Yumi Shirai, an associate professor in the College of Medicine – Tucson and director of ArtWorks, Sonoran Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

Excellence in Biomedical Research and Clinical Translation

This award honors faculty members whose outstanding contributions advance knowledge and innovation across biomedical research and its translation to clinical practice.

Jeff Burgess, MD, a professor in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the director of the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research

Roberta Diaz Brinton, Regents Professor in the College of Medicine – Tucson and founder and director of the Center for Innovation in Brain Science

Excellence in the Humanities and Social Sciences

This award honors faculty members whose outstanding research contributions advance understanding of human behavior, education, culture and social systems to address real-world challenges.

Sunggye Hong, the David and Minnie Meyerson distinguished professor in the College of Education

Erin Leahey, professor in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Excellence in Physical and Natural Sciences

This award recognizes a faculty member whose exceptional research achievements deepen knowledge and drive discovery in the physical and natural sciences.

Scott Saleska, professor in the College of Science and deputy director of research at Biosphere 2

Excellence in Applied Research and Engineering

This award celebrates faculty members whose research and innovation translate scientific and engineering principles into practical solutions benefiting society.

Ladd Keith, associate professor in the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture and director of the Heat Resilience Initiative, Arizona Institute for Resilience

Judith Su, an associate professor in the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences and the College of Engineering

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes a current faculty member for their outstanding and enduring contributions to research and creative activity over the course of their career.

Katharine Jacobs, director of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions in the Arizona Institute for Resilience, Office of Research and Partnerships