RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP

Faculty members recognized for achievement

East Carolina University faculty and students gathered Tuesday, Feb. 28 to honor outstanding scholars during the Research and Scholarship Awards Ceremony. 

ECU Chancellor Dr. Cecil Staton congratulated the honorees and stressed the importance of research experiences for students. 

“One of the very special and great things about East Carolina University is the service you’re doing – the research you undertake,” said Staton. “We must be a gateway for our students to succeed and certainly research and international experiences are a way to do that.” 

Dr. Kyle Summers (left) and Dr. Paul DeVita received the ECU Lifetime Research and Creative Activity Award.

ECU professors Dr. Paul DeVita and Dr. Kyle Summers were presented the Lifetime Research and Creative Activity Award. 

“This year the committee narrowed the field down to two nominees and could not pick a clear winner and when you see these individuals you will understand their dilemma,” said Michael Van Scott, interim vice chancellor for research, economic development and engagement. 

DeVita is the LeRoy T. Walker Distinguished Professor and director of the biomechanics laboratory in the Department of Kinesiology. He has spent more than 30 years analyzing complex biomechanical processes and presenting them to audiences in an understandable way. He established the first National Biomechanics Day, which was celebrated by more than 2,000 elementary and high school students in 30 states across the nation in April 2016. 

“Anyone who has worked with Paul knows that he is a talented scientist and teacher who combines wit and knowledge effortlessly, making science fun,” said Van Scott. 

Research led by DeVita has had significant impact on the understanding of age and disease on lower limb function and provided information for clinical trials designed to improve the quality of life in older adults. 

“Biomechanics is a broad field and I have been so wonderfully lucky to work in it,” said DeVita after accepting the award. “We are so happy that our science has helped other people and improved their quality of life, especially people with arthritis.” 

The second recipient of the Lifetime Research and Creative Activity Award was evolutionary biologist Dr. Kyle Summers. Brightly colored tropical frogs are at the center of most of Summers’ research which includes evolutionary ecology and genetics. 

“My research was inspired by my fascination with nature, especially tropical forests and amphibians. For reasons that are not clear to me I’ve always been fascinated by frogs, since I was very young, and that led me into my career,” said Summers. 

He was the first to demonstrate Müllerian mimicry in frogs and to use modern comparative methods to demonstrate an evolutionary correlation between toxicity and bright coloration in any animal. Additionally, Summers has conducted innovative research on the application of evolutionary approaches to the study of heart disease, cancer and psychopathology. 

“Kyle is respected across Central and South America and across Europe. His work is frequently reported on in popular media including National Geographic, the New York Times and Scientific American,” said Van Scott. 

Also recognized during the ceremony were associate English professor Dr. Amanda Ann Klein and associate sociology professor Dr. A.J. Jacobs, who each received the Five-Year Research and Creative Activity Award. This award is presented to faculty members whose work over five years at ECU had an exceptional impact on their field of study. 

At right, Dr. Jennifer McKinnon receives the ECU Scholarship of Engagement Award from Chancellor Cecil Staton.