International Fellows & International Achievement Awards
UF/IFAS boasts a large number of highly qualified faculty members who have dedicated a significant amount of their time to collaborative research projects and to increasing the International awareness of our students. They truly contribute to the globalization of the university, which benefits our students, our faculty, our citizens, and the world. Faculty members identified for their outstanding global efforts are recognized annually as IFAS International Fellows.
In 2004, UF/IFAS International Programs and the International Program Advisory Team (IPAT) established an annual award of International Fellow to recognize outstanding international endeavors by UF/IFAS senior faculty members. In 2006, this award was expanded to include junior, newly tenured or untenured faculty, who receive the UF/IFAS International Achievement Award.
One or two recipients each year are recognized by the Sr. Vice President of UF/IFAS. When funding is available, the recipients receive a $1,000 award. They receive a special plaque and are also recognized on a perpetual plaque on display outside of the International Programs office. Look for the call for nominations for 2009 this fall. We are proud to present the current and past UF/IFAS International Fellows and International Achievement Award winners:
2008 International Fellow & Achievement Award Winners
Dr. Joe Funderburk, Professor, Ph.D., International Fellow
North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, Florida
Pest Management
"Joe Funderburk, an entomologist located at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, Florida, is a world expert on thrips, an insect with 5,000 species worldwide, 87 of which are devastating agricultural pests. Funderburk’s programs in the management and identification of thrips species, which threaten U.S. crops when they enter the nation through Florida, are of great domestic and international significance. His work, carried out in many countries on a wide variety of crops, has been of great benefit to the citizens of Florida, the U.S., and the world.
Dr. Funderburk’s research, extension, and teaching programs are focused on the ecology, management, and taxonomy of thrips. His ability to turn taxonomy research into new agricultural inspection procedures in the U.S. and abroad helps protect crops and many national economies from the invasion of new thrips species and the viruses they carry. The success of Dr. Funderburk’s research and extension program is reflected in his 2004 USDA Honor Award for Excellence, USDA’s highest recognition for service to agriculture and the public. It gives me great pleasure to award the UF/IFAS International Fellow Award for 2008 to Dr. Joe Funderburk."
-- Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, January 15, 2009.
Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, Associate Professor, Ph.D., International Achievement Award
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena is one of the most internationally active young faculty members in the UF/IFAS Agricultural and Biological Engineering department. He has collaborated with scientists in Europe, Latin America, and Africa for many years. Educated in the U.S. and Spain, he is naturally comfortable in multiple cultures. He collaborates on research projects and co-publishes with international colleagues. For example, a recent book on an integrated approach to soil-water-solute characterization was co-authored with a professor in Spain.
His dedication to international engagement began early in his career, when he worked for the government of Spain to develop and deliver short courses in South and Central America, such as his series of intensive 7-day “train the trainer” courses, delivered over three years in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Guatemala. At UF/IFAS, Dr. Muñoz-Carpena developed an undergraduate/graduate exchange program between UF and EARTH University in Costa Rica, which gives UF students international experience and helps recruit top Latin American students to UF. Dr. Muñoz-Carpena frequently hosts international scientists for joint research and mentors students from all over the world. He serves as an excellent international ambassador, actively promoting UF and IFAS throughout the global agricultural and biological engineering community. It gives me great pleasure to award the UF/IFAS International Achievement Award for 2008 to Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena."
-- Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, January 15, 2009.
2007 International Fellow & Achievement Award Winners
Dr. Steve Otwell Professor, Ph.D., International Fellow
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Florida Sea Grant
"Steve is a Florida Sea Grant seafood extension specialist and a professor in the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department. Steve consistently has the vision to predict and initiate both research and Extension training prior to the time they are needed, anticipating major shifts in the industry his program serves.
Building on that talent, he has amassed a tremendous world-wide reputation in the area of seafood safety training, with an International Shrimp School intensive training program that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers its principal training program for shrimp processors and importers. His training materials are used worldwide and have been translated into at least ten languages. Additionally, Steve raised funds to construct the world-class research facilities in the Aquatic Food Products Lab. Please join me in congratulating Steve Otwell, the 2007 UF/IFAS International Fellow."
-- Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, April 2008.
Dr. Natalia Peres, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., International Achievement Award
Gulf Coat Research and Education Center (Gulf Coast REC)
Plant Pathology
"Natalia Peres, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Plant Pathology housed at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast REC in Balm, Florida. She conducts research and extension programs on disease control in strawberry, citrus and ornamentals. In the past five years, Natalia has been very active internationally. She is well known in Brazil and has worked with growers and colleagues in Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Costa Rica, Spain, Egypt and Canada.
Natalia has earned national and international recognition in particular for her research on Colletotrichum [kō-le-to-TRY-kum] diseases. She also has worked on development of several computer models that help growers manage application of fungicides, saving growers money and reducing impact on the environment.
Natalia has an excellent ability to obtain competitive grant funding to support her work. Just since 2004, she has secured more than $1 million in grants that involve international cooperators and international students. She has also received many awards, including an international award from Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations, Brazil Trade Promotion Operations Division.
Please join me in congratulating Natalia Peres for her fine achievements as the 2007 UF/IFAS International Achievement Award winner."
-- Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, April 2008.
2006 International Fellows & Achievement Award Winners
Dr. Nick Comerford, Professor, Ph.D., International Fellow
“Dr. Comerford’s contributions clearly put him in the ranks of world-class scientist and educator and his accomplishments demonstrate his unusual creativity, excellence in reasoning ability, and technical skills that will have impact in meeting the needs of international clientele. These and other accomplishments were the basis for recognizing Dr. Nick Comerford as an IFAS International Fellow.”
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Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources, January 11, 2007.
Dr. Lawrence Datnoff, Professor, Ph.D., International Fellow
"Dr. Datnoff has dedicated thirty years to highly productive international service and research. Datnoff’s efforts have led to significant advancements in international cooperative research, teaching, and service, with special emphasis on the use of silicon for plant disease control, for which he is undoubtedly the world’s premier expert.”
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Dr. Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, January 11, 2007.
Dr. Karen Kainer, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., International Achievement Award Winner
School of Forest Resources and Conservation
"Dr. Karen Kainer has developed a strong, well-funded research program in tropical forest ecology that integrates community development. Her international activities have had a broad impact on internationalizing the campus and have raised UF’s profile as an institution committed to supporting developing-country initiatives for improved tropical forest management and conservation.”
-- Dr. Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, January 11, 2007.
Dr. Edward "Gilly" Evans, Assistant Professor, PhD., International Achievement Award Winner
Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead
"Dr. Edward “Gilly” Evans has produced a cascade of international accomplishments of great benefit to the University of Florida and our state. Gilly took the lead in developing a Caribbean Basin-Pacific Basin project on the economic aspects of managing invasive species. In addition, Gilly has provided strong leadership in developing a strategy for safeguarding the Greater Caribbean Region—which includes the southern USA—from harmful invasive species. Evans is also passionate about the need for international trade that is not only fair and free, but also safe."
--Dr. Jimmy Cheek, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, January 11, 2007.
2005 International Fellows
Dr. Daniel J. Cantliffe, Professor and Chair, Ph.D., International Fellow
“The numerous requests that you have had to participate with programs in Brazil, Korea, Italy, Israel and other countries attest to the success of your outreach efforts. The innovative systems that you have developed will go far toward increasing sustainability on a global basis. Your practices of providing graduate and doctoral students with hands on training, both in research techniques and in international relations, will forever mold them. And your efforts to bring that knowledge back into the classroom will provide younger students with invaluable insight into the possibilities of international programs."
--Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources,
University of Florida, November 9, 2005.
Dr. Susan Jacobson, Professor, Ph.D., International Fellow
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
“The outstanding work that you have done extending research and teaching to the far reaches of Kenya, Uganda, Central America and other areas is most impressive. It is clear that your work with graduate and doctoral students will have far reaching implications for these countries and their people. Your accomplishments in the areas of publishing, outreach, and leadership are equally impressive.”
--Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida, November 9, 2005.
2004 International Fellows
Dr. Jim Jones, Distinguished Professor, Ph.D., International Fellow
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Profile (268KB pdf)
“Congratulations on your outstanding achievements. I think it is an honor to be selected by your peers as one of the elite faculty members who lead international projects”.
--Richard L. Jones, Interim Vice President for Agricultural and Natural Resources, November 3, 2004.
Dr. P.K. Nair. Distinguished Professor, Ph.D., International Fellow
School of Forest Resources and Conservation
“It is both an honor and a pleasure to be able to tell you that you have been selected as one of the first two IFAS International Fellows. Congratulations on your outstanding achievements."
--Richard L. Jones, Interim Vice President for Agricultural and Natural Resources, November 3, 2004.
