Gifts in Action - Nickolas Sahinidis

MEET NIKOLAOS SAHINIDIS

Nikolaos Sahinidis, an internationally known professor of chemical and bimolecular engineering in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was recently named a University Scholar. The award recognizes excellence in teaching and research and Sahinidis will receive $10,000 to aid in his ongoing work.

Sahinidis, who has taught in the chemical and bimolecular engineering program since 1991, has excelled in the fields of optimization and crystal structure determination. His work has transformed the practice of optimization in science and engineering. A 504-page book co-written by Sahinidis outlines much of his research.

Sahinidis has also won nine National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health awards, as well as five prestigious research prizes and fellowships and he holds positions on seven editorial boards. In addition, he led development of the U. of I.’s master’s degree program in bioinformatics, which was approved in 2004. It is the first U. of I. degree overseen by the Graduate College and to be offered by more than one department.

Sahinidis is an example of a young faculty whose contributions will aid the U of I. for many years to come.

THE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The University Scholars program was established in 1985 and has since distributed about $9.9 million to 436 scholars. Funding for this program is provided by private gifts to the Advancement Fund of the University of Illinois.

Story courtesy LAS.