Six researchers added to Arkansas Research Alliance Fellows Program

The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) announced six new ARA Fellows during a press conference at the State Capitol on Thursday (Dec. 13) with Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

The ARA Fellows program, launched in 2014, recognizes research leaders who are currently working in Arkansas at one of the state’s five research campuses: University of Arkansas (UA); University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS); University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock); University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB); Arkansas State University (A-State); and also from the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) in Jefferson, Arkansas, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lab located outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

ARA Fellows from university campuses receive a $75,000 grant.

The ARA Fellows program was created to support world-class researchers whose work strengthens the competitiveness of the state through research. ARA Fellows focus on innovations in biomedical engineering, plant biochemistry, nanoscience, microbiology, nutritional improvements, electronics research and more, often resulting in a direct impact on the state’s economy.

This is the ARA’s 10th year of awarding fellows.

“ARA impacts our state in so many positive ways, from increasing the amount of federal research funds available in Arkansas to accelerating the commercialization timetable, to connecting research to our established businesses,” said Gov. Hutchinson.

The six new ARA Fellows join 26 existing ARA Scholars and Fellows. The new ARA Fellows are:

Nitin Agarwal, Ph.D., UA Little Rock
Distinguished Professor, Information Science Department

Jingyi Chen, Ph.D., UA
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Steven Foley, Ph.D., NCTR
Deputy Director, Division of Microbiology

Xiuzhen Huang, Ph.D., A-State
Professor of Computer Science

Clint Kilts, Ph.D., UAMS
Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Mansour Mortazavi, Ph.D., UAPB
Professor and Vice Chancellor

“ARA Fellows are nominated by their respective institutions,” said Jerry Adams, ARA President and CEO. “We are honored to have these immensely talented researchers join the ARA Academy of Scholars and Fellows.”