Awards and Honors
Through their work at RTI, our researchers consistently distinguish themselves as leaders in their respective fields. In many cases, individual contributions to the advancement of science have been recognized by their peers. A partial list of current and past honors conferred on RTI staff members, or on the entire institute, by professional organizations, governments, and the community is shown below.
Treasury & Risk's 2009 Alexander Hamilton Gold Award
RTI's enterprise risk management program was named Treasury & Risk magazine's 2009 gold winner of the Alexander Hamilton award for enterprise risk management, the second straight year RTI has won this award. The award was presented at a best practices summit in New York City and recognized RTI’s efforts to identify and address business, financial, and operational risks. (RTI News Release)
NC Magazine's 2009 'Best Employers' List
RTI International was named one of the "Best Employers in North Carolina," ranking sixth on NC Magazine's "Best Employers 2009" list. (RTI News Release)
Triangle Business Journal 2009 'Fast 50' List
RTI International was again recognized as one of the Research Triangle's fastest growing private companies by the Triangle Business Journal at the 2009 "Fast 50 Awards" ceremony. (RTI News Release)
2009 Family-Friendly Company
RTI International was selected as one of North Carolina's 2009 Family-Friendly 50 companies by Carolina Parent magazine. (RTI News Release)
International Affairs Council 2009 'Citizen of the World' Award
The International Affairs Council named Victoria Franchetti Haynes, president and chief executive officer of RTI International, its 2009 "Citizen of the World." The International Affairs Council is a community-based organization in the Research Triangle region comprising more than 2,000 professionals and 400 member organizations that promotes understanding of world affairs and culture. (RTI News Release)
'Magic Bullet' Lifetime Achievement Award
Mansukh Wani, Ph.D., who retired from RTI International, was recognized for lifetime achievement in the field of pharmaceutics at the second Paul Ehrlich World Conference on Magic Bullets, held recently in Germany. Wani received a Magic Bullet Award for his career scientific contributions, and particularly for his co-discovery, with the late Monroe Wall, of the "magic bullets" of Taxol® and camptothecin™. (RTI News Release)
Triangle Business Journal 2008 'Fast 50' List
RTI International was again recognized as one of the Research Triangle's fastest growing private companies by the Triangle Business Journal at the 2008 "Fast 50 Awards" ceremony. (RTI News Release)
Treasury & Risk's 2008 Alexander Hamilton Gold Award
RTI's enterprise risk management program was named Treasury & Risk magazine's 2008 gold winner of the Alexander Hamilton award for enterprise risk management. The award, which was presented at a best practices summit in New York City, recognized RTI’s efforts to systematically identify and address its wide ranging business, financial, and operational risks. (RTI News Release)
Environmental Business Journal Silver Achievement Medal
RTI International earned a silver achievement medal in the international business category from the Environmental Business Journal for helping the Emirate of Abu Dhabi establish a world-class environmental protection agency. (RTI News Release)
Committee on National Statistics Membership
Sally C. Morton, Ph.D., vice president of RTI International's Statistics and Epidemiology unit, was selected to serve a three-year term as a member of the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT).
Medicinal Chemistry 'Hall of Fame' Inductees
RTI researchers F. Ivy Carroll, Ph.D., and the late Monroe Wall, Ph.D., were inducted into the American Chemical Society Division of Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame last month for their outstanding contributions to medicinal chemistry. Among his many achievements, Carroll developed RTI-336 and JDTic, two pharmacotherapies for the treatment of cocaine abuse and the prevention of relapse to cocaine use. Wall co-discovered the anti-cancer compounds Taxol® and camptothecin™, which helped revolutionize modern cancer research.
President-Elect of Washington Statistical Society
Karol Krotki, a senior research statistician, was elected president-elect of the 1,000-member Washington Statistical Society, the largest chapter of the American Statistical Association. Krotki will serve a three-year cycle as president-elect, president, and past-president.
President-Elect of American Statistical Association
Sally C. Morton, Ph.D., vice president of RTI International's Statistics and Epidemiology unit, was elected president-elect of the American Statistical Association (ASA), the premier membership organization for the statistical profession. Morton will serve as president-elect in 2008, president in 2009, and past president in 2010.
CDC Health Equity Award
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized a team of researchers from RTI International and their partners for making a significant contribution to advancing minority health programs, research, and surveillance. The CDC presented the team with the Health Equity Award for the research, implementation, and evaluation of Project DIRECT (Diabetes Interventions Reaching and Educating Communities Together).
Asian American Business Roundtable 2006 Prime Contractor of the Year
RTI International was recognized as the Prime Contractor of the Year for 2006 by the Asian American Business Roundtable. RTI was awarded the honor in recognition of our dedication to providing small, disadvantaged, or minority and women-owned businesses the opportunity to compete for RTI subcontracting projects. (RTI News Release)
2006 Research Achievement Award in Drug Design and Discovery
F. Ivy Carroll, Ph.D., RTI International distinguished fellow and director of the Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, was awarded the 2006 Research Achievement Award in Drug Design and Discovery by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.
Award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a Prime Contractor
RTI was selected for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a Prime Contractor for our outreach to all classifications of small businesses and our supplier diversity program.
Research Career Scientist Award from the Academy on Mental Retardation
Don Bailey, Ph.D., RTI Distinguished Fellow and director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earned the Research Career Scientist Award from the Academy on Mental Retardation. The award honors a distinguished person whose professional career has significantly advanced the field of developmental disabilities.
T.W. Schultz Best Contributed Paper Prize
A study led by Robert Beach, Ph.D., concerning agricultural management practices that can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, was awarded the T.W. Schultz Best Contributed Paper Prize at the International Conference of Agricultural Economists. The prize honors an outstanding paper in the field presented by an author younger than age 38.
2006 Nathan B. Eddy Memorial Award
F. Ivy Carroll, Ph.D., RTI Distinguished Fellow and director of RTI’s Center for Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, received the College on Problems of Drug Dependence’s 2006 Nathan B. Eddy Memorial Award for outstanding research in the field of drug addiction.
ISPOR Research Excellence Award for Practical Application Excellence
Josephine Mauskopf, Ph.D., RTI Health Solutions, health economics researcher, received the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Research Excellence Award for Practical Application Excellence, which recognizes a peer-reviewed research paper that is likely to have practical consequences for health care decision makers.
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
RTI vice president of Statistics and Epidemiology Sally Morton, Ph.D., was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Morton was elected by her peers as an AAAS Fellow in the statistical science category for her many innovative applications of meta-analysis to public policy decision making and for her years of valuable service to professional societies.
Triangle Business Journal Fast 50 Awards
RTI was recognized as the second-fastest growing company in the Triangle area as part of the Triangle Business Journal’s 2005 Fast 50 Awards program. (RTI News Release)
2005 NASA 'Turning Goals into Reality' Awards
RTI staff in the Center of Aerospace Technology (CAST) received two separate Turning Goals into Reality awards from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Each award recognizes industry teams who have made significant progress towards achieving highly ambitious and critical aerospace objectives. One award was presented to the Small Aircraft Transportation Systems (SATS) team for technology advancements and systems development that will allow increased capacity and mobility in the National Airspace System. RTI staff receiving this award included Jason Brindel, Randall Davis, Doree Fitzhugh, Michael Heck (CAST director), Jim Henion, Lisa Kauffman, Lou Williams, and Dennis Wilt. The other award was presented to the Gulfstream-V Synthetic Vision Systems Integrated Technology Evaluation (GVSITE) team for their work in aviation safety that provides enhanced tools to improve visibility for pilots. RTI staff receiving this award included Chi Nguyen and Joe White.
2005 NASA 'Aviation Safety & Security Program' Award
For their exemplary work in the Aviation Weather Information (AWIN) project, Dr. Michael Heck (CAST director) and Dennis Wilt were honored with the NASA Aviation Safety & Security Program award for "outstanding contributions to aviation weather safety research & development." The AWIN project is one part of NASA's Aviation Safety & Security program. Its goal is to provide improved weather information to users of the National Airspace System.
2005 North Carolina Awards
RTI scientist Dr. Mansukh Wani was one of six individuals in diverse fields to receive North Carolina's highest honor: the 2005 North Carolina Awards. Wani, who was presented the award for scientific achievement, discovered Taxol© and camptothecin™ with the late Dr. Monroe Wall. Since 1992, these two compounds have been instrumental in the fight against cancer, and their derivatives represent nearly one-third of all anti-cancer medications on the market today.
2005 Council for Entrepreneurial Development Technology of the Year Award
Nextreme Thermal Solutions, a company spun off from RTI International in 2005, was presented with the 2005 Technology of the Year Award from the Council for Entrepreneurial Development. The award, which was presented to Nextreme's Jesko von Windheim by RTI President Victoria Haynes, represents the second time an RTI spin-off technology company has received the award. The first time was in 2003, when it was awarded to Ziptronix.
American Society of Pharmacognosy Matt Suffness Award
RTI research chemist Nicholas Oberlies was honored in 2005 by the world’s leading organization for the investigation of natural products, the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP), with the Matt Suffness Award for young natural products scientists. In addition to recognizing the contributions of younger natural products scientists, the award honors the memory of Dr. Suffness, who served as the ASP president from 1989 to 1990.
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
RTI International Vice President of Statistics and Epidemiology Sally Morton was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Fall 2005. Morton was elected by her peers as an AAAS Fellow in the statistical science category for her many innovative applications of meta-analysis to public policy decision-making and for her years of valuable service to professional societies.
2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
RTI International President and CEO Dr. Victoria Haynes was named 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Services Sector for the Carolinas by the accounting firm Ernst & Young. The award was presented in recognition of Haynes' leadership in driving the remarkable growth and transformation taking place at RTI. (RTI News Release)
ASIS, Paul D. Schiller Award (Research Triangle Park chapter)
Chief of Corporate Security Stan Parker received the Paul D. Schiller Award from the Research Triangle Park chapter of ASIS International, the preeminent international organization for professionals responsible for security.
International Society of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Lifetime Achievement Award
RTI Distinguished Fellow Kathleen Lohr was honored in May 2005 with a lifetime achievement award for the significant contribution she has made in improving health care outcomes during a 30-year career in the fields of health care and health care policy research. Lohr is the third person to receive the Avedis Donabedian Outcomes Research Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research at its annual meeting in Washington, DC.
National Association of Purchasing Management Carolinas-Virginia
Dianna Wentz, strategic sourcing manager in Purchasing, received the National Association of Purchasing Management Carolinas-Virginia (NAPM-CV) Thomas Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to and meritorious service in the supply management profession.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Telly Silver Award
Sheri Beam of Technology Applications won a first place Telly Silver Award in June 2005 for a digital video disk she produced to promote two small business programs operated by NASA.
Society of Automotive Engineering Award for Environmental Excellence in Transportation
Molly Dix of Technology Applications was honored in June 2005 along with three NASA engineers for their work involving a high-strength aluminum alloy that is being used to create cleaner and quieter outboard motors. The Society of Automotive Engineering honored the team with its first place award for Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T). The award recognizes significant innovations in reducing the environmental impact caused by the transportation industry.
2005 University of California, Riverside, Distinguished Alumnus Award
RTI Senior Fellow Derick Brinkerhoff of International Development received the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in December 2004. The most prestigious of the UCR alumnus awards, it is based on national and international distinction in one's field and significant contribution to society.
Triangle Business Journal "40 Under 40" Award
Nicholas Oberlies, Ph.D., an RTI research chemist in organic and medicinal chemistry, was named one of the top 40 business leaders under 40 years of age by the Triangle Business Journal. The award acknowledges Dr. Oberlies's ability to balance his family and community life with his professional activities at the Natural Products Laboratory.
2004 R&D 100 Award for Synthetic Fuel Technology
RTI was awarded a prestigious R&D 100 Award for developing a synthetic fuel technology that promises clean and economical use of coal. The R&D 100 Award is sponsored by R&D magazine to recognize the most significant new technologies of the year. The RTI process removes large amounts of pollution from synthetic coal gas, or syngas, so that it can be used to generate electricity, produce hydrogen, make chemical products, or produce motor fuels.
2003 American Chemical Society National Historic Chemical Landmark
RTI was presented with a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society to commemorate the discovery of the anticancer pharmaceuticals Taxol© and camptothecin™ by Dr. Mansukh Wani and the late Dr. Monroe Wall. In an April ceremony at RTI headquarters in Research Triangle Park, a plaque was affixed to the front of the Medicinal Chemistry Building.
2003 Business Leader of the Year
RTI President Victoria Haynes has been named the 2003 Business Leader of the Year by Business Leader, a monthly magazine dedicated to helping businesses grow in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. The publication, print-published in mid-January, notes that the honor is bestowed on Dr. Haynes for the "outstanding accomplishments of RTI International under [her] leadership, its contributions to the improvement of the human condition and the positive impact it is having on the world."
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Judith T. Lessler, Ph.D., has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as a Fellow of AAAS is an honor bestowed upon members of the society by their peers in recognition of meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications. Dr. Lessler is vice president of the RTI program in genomics and molecular epidemiology, and is affiliated with the Statistics Section of the AAAS.
2003 Arthur W. Melton Early Achievement Award
Dr. Michael Schwerin, a survey research methodologist at RTI, has been recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) for early career achievement in the field of military psychology. Dr. Schwerin was presented the Arthur W. Melton Early Achievement Award at the APA conference held this year in Toronto. The award recognizes early career achievements in military psychology, normally within 5 to 10 years of entry into the field.
2003 Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Mansukh C. Wani received the 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences. Wani, who earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the university in 1962, was praised for his "significant contributions to the world" and his "commitment to science and research."
2003 NASA Turning Goals into Reality Awards
RTI staff in aerospace technology and technology applications, respectively, each received a 2003 Turning Goals into Reality (TGIR) Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Each award recognizes the contributions of RTI team members to the advancement of civil aviation and aerospace technology. One award was presented to the Aviation Safety Turbulence Prediction and Warning Systems (TPAWS) team for developing an enhanced turbulence detection capability for airborne radars. RTI staff on the TPAWS team included Les Britt, Carol Kelly, George Switzer, and Joe White of aerospace technology. The second award was presented to the High Temperature Polymide Insulation team for the development and transfer of low-density, flame-resistant polymide foam used for insulation and structural support. Molly Dix of technology applications was the key RTI staff member involved in this development.
2003 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Fellow Award
David Ensor, director of Aerosol Technology and RTI Fellow, was named a Fellow to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) at the society's 2003 Winter Meeting in Chicago. "Fellow ASHRAE is a membership grade that recognizes distinction in the arts and sciences of environmental technology and is earned through achievement as a researcher, designer, educator, or engineering executive," according to an ASHRAE press release.
2002 Moyer D. Thomas Award from the American Society for Testing Materials
RTI researcher Michael Beard received the 2002 Moyer D. Thomas Award, given by a committee of the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). The award is presented by ASTM's Committee D22 on Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres in recognition of outstanding achievement in the standardization of the sampling and analysis of atmospheres. As a research environmental chemist in Microanalytical Sciences, Beard is a specialist in the development and evaluation of analytical methods for monitoring chemical and physical characteristics of water, air, and waste.
Friedlander Award for Aerosol Science Dissertation
Chris Noble, Ph.D., research engineer at RTI, was presented with the Sheldon K. Friedlander Award at the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) conference. The award recognizes an outstanding dissertation in aerosol science and technology by an individual who has earned a doctoral degree. Dr. Noble was selected for his assistance in developing a mass spectrometer that chemically analyzes single airborne particles in real time. The dissertation identified several significant research applications for the instrument in the areas of analytical, environmental, and pharmaceutical sciences. To date, the instrument has been commercialized and seven instruments have been sold.
2002 R&D 100 Award for Thermoelectrics Breakthrough
RTI was presented with a prestigious R&D 100 Award for our groundbreaking work in thermoelectrics technology. The R&D 100 Award is a 40-year-old program sponsored by R&D magazine that recognizes the most significant new technologies of the year. Recognized as the most significant advance in thermoelectrics in decades, RTI developed a thin-film superlattice technology that is 2.4 times more efficient and 23,000 times faster than existing materials. Rama Venkatasubramanian and colleagues Edward Siivola, Tom Colpitts, and Brooks O'Quinn were members of the research team that made this discovery and initiated the Advanced Nano-Systems for Electronic Refrigeration, Energy Recovery, and Enhanced Reconnaissance (ANSER) technologies.
2002 ACS Medical Chemistry Award
Ivy Carroll, Ph.D. received the 2002 Medicinal Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society during the 28th National Medicinal Chemistry Symposium. The award, one of the most important for applied research on pharmaceuticals, honors Dr. Carroll's many accomplishments in the field.
2002 NC State Distinguished Alumnus
Alvin M. Cruze, Ph.D., RTI International Distinguished Vice President of Special Programs, has been selected as the NC State University College of Management's 2002 Distinguished Alumnus. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from NC State in 1972. The College of Management selected Dr. Cruze from among a group of alumni nominees representing all curriculum areas of the college. The award recognizes his achievements in economic research and research administration, as well as his support of the NC State Department of Economics by serving as a class speaker, recruiting students to the graduate program, and contributing to the Graduate Economics Fellowship Fund.
Innovation in Survey Research
RTI was recognized at the 57th Annual Conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research with the Innovators Award for pioneering work on audio computer-assisted self-interviewing. Judy Lessler, Ph.D., and Charles Turner, Ph.D., were listed on the award, as were former RTI employee James O’Reilly, David Celentano of The Johns Hopkins University, and Jerome Johnston of the University of Michigan. The award recognizes work in what has been a problematic area in social and survey research: obtaining accurate information on sensitive, stigmatized, and illegal behaviors from interviews in settings where information might be revealed to others nearby.
2001 NASA Administrator’s Award for Turning Goals into Reality
Four of RTI's aerospace technology engineers received a 2001 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator's Award for Turning Goals into Reality (TGIR) for their work on the Aircraft Vortex Spacing System, which will improve airport operations and safety by optimizing spacing between airplanes during instrument conditions. Recipients included Charles L. (Les) Britt, Chi Nguyen, George F. Switzer, and Carroll Lytle.
2000 APHA Award for Statistics Work
Judith T. Lessler received one of the three Statistics Section awards presented at the 128th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA) in Boston, MA, on Nov. 12-16. The Statistics Section award is presented to one section member from government, one section member from industry (Dr. Lessler), and one section member from education. It is presented to professionals who have made outstanding contributions to Statistics and Public Health.
2000 Allen Nevins Prize in American Economic History
William J. White, Ph.D., was recognized as author of the year's best dissertation about U.S. or Canadian economic history. The prize is one of two annual awards made by the Economic History Association (EHA) to recognize excellence in graduate research. His dissertation, "An Unsung Hero: The Farm Tractor's Contribution to Twentieth Century United States Economic Growth," was completed at Ohio State University.
2000 NASA Group Achievement Award
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded its Group Achievement Award in June 2000 to a team working on the agency's High Speed Research, External Flight Deck program. RTI engineers were included in the award in recognition of "the technical and programmatic contributions that you individually and collectively made to the success of the program."
2000 Kettering Prize Recognizes World's Foremost Cancer Researchers
Two RTI scientists, Drs. Monroe E. Wall and Masukh C. Wani, received the 2000 Charles F. Kettering Prize for outstanding contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. They were cited for the discovery of two chemotherapeutic compounds, camptothecinTM and Taxol®, both of which have unprecedented mechanisms of action against cancer. The Kettering Prize is awarded by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation. The automaker established the GM Cancer Research Foundation (GMCRF) in 1978 to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of basic scientists and clinical scientists in cancer research around the world. The award, valued at $250,000, is among the most prestigious in the field of medicine.
2000 Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology
R.K.M. Jayanty, Ph.D., has been named the year 2000 recipient of the American Chemical Society (ACS) annual Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology, recognizing his accomplishments in developing methods used internationally to measure potentially harmful chemicals in air, industrial sources, hazardous wastes, consumer products, and other media. This award is designed to encourage creativity in research, technology, and methods of analysis to help inform environmental decision making and/or reduce health risks.
2000 NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award
RTI received the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Public Service Group Achievement Award in 2000. This award represents the highest honor NASA bestows on groups, and RTI received it because of success in commercializing NASA technologies.
1999 NASA Turning Goals Into Reality Award
RTI's Malcolm Burgess received a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator's Award for Turning Goals Into Reality in 1999 for his contributions as part of NASA-Langley's Advanced General Aviation Transportation Experiments Team (AGATE). AGATE is an industry-university-government partnership initiated by NASA to create the technological basis for revitalizing the general aviation industry in the United States. RTI participated in organizing AGATE and plays a lead role in its systems engineering activities.
1999 NASA Group Achievement Award
In 1999, RTI's George Switzer, Chi Nguyen, and Les Britt were recognized with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Group Achievement Award for their role in developing a system to improve air traffic capacity by modifying criteria for spacing between aircraft on takeoff and landing without compromising safety. Switzer, Nguyen, and Britt were part of a larger team that developed and field tested the first prototype Aircraft Vortex Spacing System, accomplished at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. This system is designed to accurately identify "wake vortices," or turbulence that forms in the wakes of aircraft as they move through the air.
1999 Silver Reel Award
Cliff Haac, Jack Pless, and Russ Vandermass-Peeler shared a 1999 Silver Reel Award from the International Television and Video Association (ITVA) for training videos produced for the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (now the National Survey on Drug Use and Health). ITVA is the premier organization devoted to providing accomplished visual communicators with professional and business development opportunities. The ITVA awards are given in recognition of those organizations and individuals whose work contributes to excellence in professional video communications.
1998 and 1999 Hammer Awards from the National Partnership for Reinventing Government
For their work on environmental technology verification, RTI environmental scientists David Ensor, Ph.D., and Jack Farmer, Ph.D., received 1998 Hammer Awards. Operated in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Environmental Verification Technology (ETV) program is designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of improved environmental technology through third-party verification and performance reporting. RTI environmental scientist Deborah Franke served on a team that won a 1999 Hammer Award from the National Partnership for Reinventing Government. Franke was a member of the EPA's Common Sense Initiative (CSI), whose long-term goal was to develop a system that would make air quality and emissions reporting easier for industry and provide better information for the general public and environmental groups.
1998 APHA Award for Statistics Work
Kerrie Boyle received an award from the Statistics Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA). The annual award was given to Dr. Boyle in recognition of her "outstanding contributions to biostatistics and public health through the exemplary implementation and analysis of health surveys, and continuing service to the field of health statistics and the biostatistics community."
1998 Alfred Burger Award in Medicinal Chemistry
Monroe E. Wall, Ph.D., received the 1998 Alfred Burger Award in Medicinal Chemistry. The award is considered the world's most prestigious honor for applied research in pharmaceuticals. Dr. Wall was recognized for a lifetime of achievement that includes the discovery of two entirely new classes of chemotherapy agents. Established in 1978, the award is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline and administered by the American Chemical Society.
1997 American Otological Society Presidential Citation
The American Otological Society Presidential Citation, for "Major contributions to the restoration of hearing in profoundly deaf persons," was awarded to Blake S. Wilson, Dewey T. Lawson, Charles C. Finley, and Mariangeli Zerbi of RTI on the occasion of the 130th annual meeting of the American Otological Society in 1997. The researchers received the citation in recognition of their auditory prosthesis research, including design, development, and evaluation of speech processors for implantable auditory prostheses.
1996 Scientist of the Year in Lead Research
Professional associations in environmental chemistry named RTI's Emily Williams as Scientist of the Year in Lead Research at the LeadTech'96 conference. The award recognized her research and development efforts in measurements of environmental lead.
1996 MERIT Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
RTI's research on the biochemical mechanism of action of cocaine has been recognized with a 1996 MERIT Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Such awards recognize investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are likely to continue outstanding performance. RTI's chemistry research on drug abuse is led by F. Ivy Carroll, Ph.D.
1996 National Cancer Institute Awards of Recognition
RTI scientists Drs. Monroe E. Wall and Mansukh C. Wani received 1996 National Cancer Institute (NCI) Awards of Recognition for their discovery and development of the cancer drugs Taxol® and camptothecin™. NCI officials presented the awards in June of 1996 at "The Monroe Wall Symposium," a natural products chemistry conference held at Rutgers University.
1996 NASA Public Service Medal
John Finger of RTI's Virginia office received a 1996 Public Service Medal from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for outstanding technical guidance and innovation in electromagnetics research and measurement techniques in support of the agency's advanced aircraft program. The Public Service Medal, given for exceptional contributions to the mission of NASA, is the most prestigious award granted by NASA to people who are not government employees.
1996 Golden Achievement Award from the Government of Poland
In 1996, the Local Environmental Management (LEM) project and its manager, William A. Sommers of RTI (now retired), were recognized by Poland's Minister of Environment and Natural Resources with Poland's Golden Achievement Award. The award was presented in a ceremony at the U.S. Consulate in Kraków. From 1992 through 1999, RTI managed the LEM project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The project provided technical assistance and training in wastewater technology and solid waste management to municipalities in Poland and Hungary. The LEM project is one example of RTI's broad work in international development.
1996 Discover Magazine Award for Technological Innovation
Blake Wilson, director of auditory prosthesis research at RTI, was recognized for a new type of speech processor for cochlear implants. This new method has been or soon will be used by all major manufacturers of cochlear implants. The goal of the Discover award is to "recognize the all-too-often neglected men and women behind the science and technologies that impact our lives." Wilson's innovation reduces the muffling of sounds heard by patients with cochlear implants.
1996 Distinguished Chemist of the Year
RTI's R.K.M. Jayanty, Ph.D., was named the 1996 Distinguished Chemist of the Year by the North Carolina Institute of Chemists, a division of the American Institute of Chemists. He was cited for his outstanding scientific achievements in environmental chemistry, as well as his continued service to the scientific community. Two other RTI scientists are past recipients of this honor: chemical engineer Vivian Stannett, Ph.D., was recognized in 1989 and Monroe Wall, Ph.D., was the first recipient of the award, in 1977.