DATE: May 27, 2009
CONTACT:
Lesly Temesvari, 864-656-6387
ltemesv@clemson.edu
CONTACT:
Xuejun Wen, 843-792-5875
xjwen@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Jessica Lance, 864-656-2061
jrlance@clemson.edu
Clemson faculty members receive Sigma Xi awards
CLEMSON — Clemson University faculty members Lesly Temesvari, professor of biological sciences, and Xuejun Wen, associate professor of bioengineering, have received the 2009 Sigma Xi annual Researcher of the Year awards from the Sigma Xi Clemson chapter.
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, is the honor society of scientists and engineers that recognizes scientific achievement. It is a diverse chapter-based organization dedicated to the advancement of science and engineering through outstanding programs and service. Its mission is to enhance the health of research, foster integrity in science and engineering and promote the public's understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition.
Temesvari received the Senior Researcher Award for her research in understanding the parasite Entamoeba histolytica, a parasite responsible for causing dysentery. Wen received the Junior Researcher Award for research in using bioengineering strategies to promote tissue regeneration in the human body.
Temesvari received a postdoctoral fellowship at LSU Medical Center, a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Windsor in 1993 and a bachelor's degree in microbiology and immunology with a minor in chemical engineering from McGill University in 1987. Some of her awards and honors include the 2002 Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award, the 1990 and 1991 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Predoctoral Fellowship and the 1990 Ontario Graduate Scholarship.
Wen received a medical degree from Henan Medical University in 1994, a master's degree in materials and science engineering from Zhejiang University in 1997, another master's from the University of Cincinnati in 2000 and a Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Utah in 2003. Some of his honors include a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2008, the 2005 Wallace H. Coulter Early Career Translational Research Award in biomedical engineering, the 2005 Human Stem Cell Research Award from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research and the 2001 student research and travel award from the Society of Biomaterials.
Sigma Xi was founded in 1886 to honor excellence in scientific research and encourage companionship and cooperation among researchers in science-related fields.