Recognition & Honors
Accolades & Acknowledgements
Albert M. K. Cheng (Computer Science), full professor and founding director of the UH Real-Time Systems Laboratory, has been reappointed as a Distinguished Speaker of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for the 2026–2029 term.
The ACM Distinguished Speaker program recognizes internationally respected researchers and educators who are invited to share their expertise with computing communities worldwide. Cheng’s reappointment reflects his sustained leadership and global impact in real-time systems, embedded computing, and cyber-physical systems research. He has authored more than 250 refereed publications, delivered over 100 invited seminars and keynotes, and is the author of the widely used textbook Real-Time Systems: Scheduling, Analysis, and Verification.
Tai-Yen Chen (Chemistry), associate professor of chemistry, has been named a 2026 Rising Star in Chemical and Biomedical Imaging by the American Chemical Society in recognition of his pioneering research on cellular imaging and copper biology.
Chen develops advanced single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy tools to study how proteins behave inside living cells. His lab recently discovered a previously unrecognized mechanism by which Copper Transporter 1 (CTR1) rapidly changes structure to regulate copper levels, preventing cellular overload. The findings, published in Nature Communications, refine longstanding models of copper regulation and may have implications for improving chemotherapy drug delivery.
The Rising Star designation highlights early-career researchers whose work is advancing their fields and shaping future scientific discovery.
Jokūbas Žiburkus (Biology and Biochemistry) helped lead the University of Houston’s inaugural “Dementia Unlocked” Symposium, a day-long event that convened leading scholars and researchers from across Texas to advance collaborative solutions for brain health. Presented by the UH Division of Research and the UH Multidisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience and Dementia (UH-MIND), the symposium focused on dementia prevention, emerging biomarkers, translational research, and treatment innovation.
The event brought together experts from UH, UT Health, UT Medical Branch, Rice University, Texas A&M, Houston Methodist, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Baylor College of Medicine. As Texas prepares for a $3 billion investment through the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas, the symposium underscored UH’s growing leadership in interdisciplinary brain health research.
Feng Yan (Computer Science) has been recognized as a 2025 Exemplary Editor of the IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society (OJCOMS). The honor highlights his outstanding editorial leadership and service in advancing high-quality scholarship within the global communications research community.
In the News
Natalie Sumrow (Natural Sciences and Mathematics Advising Center), executive director of the NSM Advising Center and a three-time UH graduate, is redefining student success through a proactive, student-centered approach to academic advising. With more than 25 years of service to the University of Houston, Sumrow has transformed the Advising Center into a comprehensive “one-stop shop” that supports students academically, financially, and personally.
Her leadership and commitment to excellence were recognized in 2025 with the C. F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award. Sumrow’s advising model emphasizes relationship-building, accessibility, and individualized support, helping students navigate challenges and optimize their college experience. Under her direction, the center has strengthened its team with STEM-informed advisers dedicated to fostering student achievement and well-being.
Publications
Julia Wellner (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), professor of glacial and marine geology, co-authored a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that reconstructs the retreat history of key West Antarctic glaciers during the Pliocene, approximately 3 to 4.5 million years ago.
Drawing on rare marine sediment cores collected during a 2019 international expedition to the Amundsen Sea, the research shows that the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers retreated at least five times during past warm periods—often slowly at first, followed by rapid inland collapse. The findings provide one of the only geological records from this region and offer critical insight into how Antarctic ice sheets may respond to continued warming and contribute to future sea-level rise.