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Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards

Our commitment to enriching the research skills and professional growth of young faculty members at ORAU member institutions is embodied in the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards Program. These competitive research awards provide seed money for junior faculty members that often result in additional funding from other sources. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This is a one-year grant (June 1 to May 31).

Eligibility for the Powe Awards is open to full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their tenure track appointment at the time of application. If there is a question about eligibility, your ORAU Councilor makes the final determination. Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Research projects must fall within one of these five disciplines:

  • Engineering and Applied Science
  • Life Sciences
  • Mathematics/Computer Sciences
  • Physical Sciences
  • Policy, Management, or Education

Junior faculty members interested in applying should consult their ORAU Councilor, and visit the frequently asked questions.

Application submissions closed on January 9, 2023. Stay tuned for the next application period.

Impact Areas

Interested in being a reviewer for this year’s Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards process? Complete this brief contact form, including your specific area of expertise, and someone will be in contact with you.

Interested in being a Powe reviewer graphic

2021-22 Powe Award winners

2021-2022 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award Winners
Award Recipient Member Institution
Cheryl Andam University at Albany
Ali Bramson Purdue University
Spencer Bryngelson Georgia Institute of Technology
Brandon Bukowski Johns Hopkins University
Joshua Cashaback University of Delaware
Dongchang Chen University of New Mexico
Haonan Chen Colorado State University
Eric Coughlin Syracuse University
Damilola Daramola Ohio University
Meenal Datta University of Notre Dame
Brittany Givens Rassoolkhani University of Kentucky
Julian Heeck University of Virginia
Jingjie Hu North Carolina State University
Yoon Hwa Arizona State University
Laura Jacox University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Natasha Johnson University of Toledo
Priya Kumar Pennsylvania State University
John Martin University of Cincinnati
Kristen Mink Idaho State University
Talia Moore University of Michigan
Bogdan Nica Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Walter Pettus Indiana University
Ralm Ricarte Florida A&M University
Nicholas Rolston Arizona State University
Kasra Sardashti Clemson University
Manish Shetty Texas A&M University
Hosop Shin Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Cesar Uribe Rice University
Shreya Vemuganti University of Oklahoma
Guanyang Wang Rutgers University
Wei Wang University of Tennessee
Andrew Wilson University of Louisville
Haifan Wu Wichita State University
Xiaoyong Yuan Michigan Technological University
Zhengwu Zhang University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lingling Zhao University of Alabama in Huntsville
MITRE Award Recipient Member Institution
Xiaolei Huang University of Memphis
Deborah Jehu Augusta University
Jillian Scheer Syracuse University
Mary Stitt University at Albany
Asha Winfield Louisiana State University

Powe Award recipient explores the use of digital tools to address autism in rural areas

Ying Hao, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Mississippi, is exploring ways virtual technology, like telepractice, can bring communication tools to the families of children with autism spectrum disorders living in rural areas.

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Ying Hao, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Mississippi

Contact us

For more information about the Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, contact the University Partnerships office at (865) 576-6513 or PoweAwards@orau.org.