Begun in 1985, the scholars program recognizes faculty excellence on the three University of Illinois campuses and provides $15,000 to each scholar for each of three years to enhance his or her academic career. The money may be used for travel, equipment, research assistants, books or other purposes.

“Exceptional faculty are at the very core of the University of Illinois’ standing as a global leader in education and innovation,” said Barbara Wilson, the executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs for the U. of I. System. “The University Scholars program honors the best of the best, showcasing the phenomenal research and teaching that transform students’ lives and drive progress for our state and nation.”

The Urbana campus recipients include:

Brian Allan, a professor of entomology, is broadly interested in the ecology of infectious diseases, particularly diseases transmitted via the bite of infected arthropods such as ticks or mosquitoes. Much of his research explores the consequences of human-mediated global change for the risk of exposure to vector-borne diseases. He uses a broad array of tools in approaching these questions, including field studies, molecular techniques and modeling.

...