Two Faculty Affiliated with Calit2 Among Five Winners of UCSD Excellence Awards

San Diego, CA, March 7, 2007 -- Two professors from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering are among the five faculty members that were honored by the Chancellor’s Associates for excellence in teaching, research and community service. Both Joseph Pasquale and Pavel Pevzner are affiliated with Calit2 at UCSD, and Pevzner directs Calit2's Center for Algorithmic and Systems Biology (CASB).

Joseph Pasquale (left) and Pavel Pevzner

Pasquale, the J. Robert Beyster Professor of Computer Science, was honored for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Pevzner, the Ronald R. Taylor Professor of Computer Science, received his award for excellence in research in science and engineering.

The annual event honors UCSD faculty as a whole, while highlighting the important contributions of the university’s most exemplary teachers and researchers. Chancellor’s Associates, a program for donors who give an annual leadership gift of $1,500 or more to the university, recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of UCSD faculty members with a citation and $2,500 honorarium.

The other winners for 2007 are: Craig Callender [video], professor of Philosophy, for excellence in graduate teaching; Sandra Brown [video], professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, for excellence in research in arts, humanities and social sciences; and Irving “Jake” Jacoby [video ], professor of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, for excellence in community service.

To watch streaming video profile of undergraduate teaching award winner Joe Pasquale, click here or on image. Length: 3:39

“We are enormously pleased to present the Faculty Excellence Awards to these extraordinarily talented members of our faculty,” said Marsha Chandler, UCSD senior vice chancellor of Academic Affairs. “Each of them has made an important contribution to UC San Diego and the community, be it through teaching, research or community leadership. We are proud to have them on our faculty.”

Award candidates are nominated by their academic peers, with final selection by a committee comprised of Chancellor’s Associates donors. Criteria for selection are based on faculty member achievements, reputation, and impact on students and the academic community. Since 1974, UC San Diego has recognized 105 extraordinary faculty members with Chancellor’s Associates Faculty Excellence Awards.

Joseph Pasquale was recognized as an exemplary teacher, mentor and leader within CSE. He consistently earns top ratings and reviews from students taking his standing-room-only classes on Principles of Operating Systems and popular freshman seminars on the Slide Rule and Science of Casino Games. In addition to inspiring students to think creatively, Pasquale is a caring mentor, encouraging undergrads and high school students in their first steps toward a career in computer science.

“Professor Pasquale is an exemplary teacher,” said Jacobs School Dean Frieder Seible. “It is particularly noteworthy that his high student approval ratings are achieved in core undergraduate courses with enrollments as high as 200 students. His ability to relate to, encourage and inspire students is nothing short of amazing.”

To watch streaming video profile of Pavel Pevzner, winner for science and engineering research, click here or on image. Length: 3:11

Pavel Pevzner was honored for his work as a pioneer and widely recognized leader in the field of computational molecular biology, also known as bioinformatics. His focus in the area of genome rearrangements – a common type of genetic mutation – has helped shed light on the study of both evolutionary history and cancer. A distinguished lecturer and author, Pevzner has also been instrumental in organizing, developing and promoting bioinformatics-related research and educational programs on campus.

“Professor Pevzner has made broad and prolific contributions to the various areas of computational molecular biology,” said Keith Marzullo, chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. “It is hard to imagine this field without his presence.”

Adapted from a press release by Laura Margoni. Click here for original.

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Two Faculty Affiliated with Calit2 Among Five Winners of UCSD Excellence Awards