Rod Andrew Jr
Professor
Department of History
College of Arts and Humanities
Researcher of the Year
The 2026 Clemson University Researcher of the Year awards were announced at the 10th annual Clemson University Research Symposium on May 6, 2026, at the Watt Family Innovation Center.
The award recognizes the efforts of high-achieving faculty whose work advances society through the generation and dissemination of new knowledge. Colleges nominate one senior and one junior faculty member (within 10 years of their terminal degree), and an interdisciplinary committee reviews all nominations.
Meet the 2026 Researcher of the Year winners below.
2026 WINNERS
Mik Carbajales-Dale
Professor
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
Senior Researcher of the Year Mik Carbajales-Dale, professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, is an expert on the energy economy and its environmental impact. He leads the Clemson Energy-Economy-Environment (E3) Systems Analysis Group, which is building decision-support tools to reduce the environmental impacts of technology systems and to understand the structural transformation necessary to advance a prosperous and sustainable energy future.
Luigi Boccuto
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences
Junior Researcher of the Year Luigi Boccuto, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, is a clinical geneticist interested in autism spectrum disorder and related conditions, such as Phelan-McDermid syndrome, hereditary cancer, overgrowth syndromes and intellectual disability. His research can help to develop biomarkers for early screening and diagnosis, as well as identify potential treatments.
2026 SENIOR FACULTY NOMINEES
Mik Carbajales-Dale
Professor
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
Timo Heister
Professor
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
College of Science
Robert Powell
George B. Hartzog Jr. Endowed Professor
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences
Corrine Sackett
Professor
Department of Education and Human Development
College of Education
Scott Swain
Professor and Powers Distinguished Fellow
Department of Marketing
Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business
2026 JUNIOR FACULTY NOMINEES
Luigi Boccuto
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences
Rafael D’Oliveira
Assistant Professor
School of Mathematical and Statistical Science
College of Science
Quin Hiroshi Gibson
Assistant Professor
Department of Philosophy and Religion
College of Arts and Humanities
Lindsey Rowe
Assistant Professor
Department of Education and Human Development
College of Education
Sharon Sheridan
Assistant Professor
Department of Management
Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business
Ming Yang
Dean’s Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
