Outstanding Researchers

Outstanding Researcher - Spring 2024

Dr. Zhu Hua Ning is a professor of Urban Forestry and doctoral program leader of the Department of Urban Forestry, Environment, and Natural Resources at Southern University and A&M College (SU). She is the Director of the Air, Nutrient, Soil, Water, Ecosystem, and Remote Sensing Institute (SU Answers Institute) at the SU Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Ning spear-headed the Urban Forestry Ph.D. degree-granting program creation and implementation and is a founding member of the Urban Forestry M.S. and B.S. degree-granting programs at the Urban Forestry Department – the Department Excellence through Faculty Excellence awardee by the State of Louisiana Board of Regents of Higher Education. 

Dr. Ning has more than 30 years of research experience. She created new programs and new projects addressing and targeting goals, objectives, priority areas, and needs of the USDA NIFA, NASA, NSF, USEPA, USDA FS, and USDOI USGS. She has led the research team and programs addressing regional, national, and international critical issues such as climate change, environmental problems, mitigation strategies, adaptation options, and sustainable management practices. Her research project and team efforts generated knowledge used to devise new or improved strategies for decreasing the impacts of environmental problems on natural resources thus increasing productivity, sustainability, and ecosystem services.

She is the Project Director for more than 45 projects totaling more than 37 million grants and contracts funded by USDA NIFA, NASA, NSF, US EPA, USDA FS, USGS, DOE, and The Ford Foundation. She has more than 230 scientific publications, including books, book chapters, journal articles, proceeding articles, monographs, technical reports, and abstracts; and more than 170 scientific presentations at international, national and regional conferences, symposia, and workshops.

Outstanding Researcher - Fall 2023

Dr. Sanjay Batra is an accomplished and dedicated researcher, boasting a stellar academic background with recognition throughout undergraduate and graduate studies. With prestigious awards, including the Regional Service Award (Asia-Pacific), Bursary Award, and Young Investigator Award, for contributions in Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology, and Lung Biology, Dr. Batra leads a dynamic research group focused on unraveling intricate molecular mechanisms governing innate immunity and inflammatory responses induced by environmental pollutants.

Currently serving as the BASF Endowed Professor & Chair at the Department of Environmental Toxicology, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Batra has a rich professional history, including positions at renowned institutions and extensive post-doctoral research training, actively contributing to diverse areas like cancer and inflammation.

Notable honors include the Outstanding Researcher of the Year in the Southern University System (2019) and the Outstanding Researcher Award at Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge (2023). Actively engaged in professional memberships, impactful teaching roles, and serving on grant review panels, Dr. Batra continues to make a significant impact on the field, boasting over 70 research publications in peer-reviewed journals and over 200 conference presentations/papers.

To view Dr. Batra's Curriculum Vitae, click here. 

Outstanding Researcher - Spring 2023

Guang-Lin Zhao, Ph. D., Professor of Physics Physics Department and Nano Materials Laboratory  

Professional Preparation

1992, Ph. D., majoring in condensed matter physics with a minor in computer science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Appointments

1997- present. Assistant to Associate to full Professor, Southern University and A & M College. Graduate/undergraduate teaching. Computational and experimental research on the synthesis and physical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and multifunctional nano composites, nitrogen functionalized carbon nanostructures as new electrocatalysts, thermoelectric materials, wide band-gap semiconductors, and high Tc superconductors.

Fall 2005 - Spring 2006. Visiting Fellow, Visiting Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University. Research in developing a new method for ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations for materials research. Teaching of Engineering Mathematics.

Other Professional Service

1998-present, served as a manuscript referee for 28 professional research journals.

2004-present, served as a proposal reviewer for National Science Foundation, U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation, Korea Research Foundation, Austrian Science Fund.
 

Honors

2017 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Innovation Award at the Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA) STEM Global Competitiveness Conference in Washington, D.C., February 9-11, 2017.

Synergistic Activities

Research on the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials, functionalized carbon nanostructures, and doped transition metal structures, as new electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and others;

Studies of multifunctional polymer nano-composites;

First-principles computational studies of electronic and related properties of materials;

Teach graduate and undergraduate physics courses.
 

Patent: A patent application filed with the U.S. Patent Office, Serial No. 17/965,722, on October 22, 2022. Title: “Multifunctional Carbon Nanotubes-Glass Fiber-Epoxy Composites with High Density Interfaces for Microwave Absorption and Structural Materials”. Inventor: Guang-Lin Zhao, Co-Inventor: Rong Zhao. Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

Recent Grant Funding Awards for Research Projects

A research project entitled "Electric Field Polarization on Heteroatoms Doped Carbon Nanomaterials and Their Electrocatalytic Properties" is funded by the Army Research Office (ARO), Grant Number W911NF-22-1-0099, funding amount $583,400, for a period of three years from 7/1/2022 to 6/30/2025. PI: Guang-Lin Zhao.

A research project entitled “Partnership for Research and Education on Molecules at High Pressures” is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), award number: 2216805, for the period from 8/1/2022 to 7/31/2025, funding amount $900,000.00. PI: Guang-Lin Zhao. Co-PIs: Gilbert Collins (University of Rochester (UR)), Shizhong Yang (SU), Kinesha Harris (SU).

A research project entitled “Exploration of New Multifunctional Polymer Nano- Composites for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption and Light Weight Structural Materials” is funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), award # N00014-22-1-2744, for the period from 9/1/2022 to 8/31/2025, funding amount $450,000.00. PI: Guang-Lin Zhao.

National Science Foundation Award # 1736136 entitled "CREST Center for Next Generation Multifunctional Composites (NextGen Composites Phase II)", for an award amount of total $5,000,000.00 (5 millions) for five years, project period 9/1/2017 – 8/31/2023. PI: Patrick Mensah; Guang-Lin Zhao is a co-PI of this center project and the lead PI of one of the three subprojects.

OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER

Spring 2022

Dr. Patrick Mensah began his career at Southern University in the fall semester of 1991. He currently holds the title of Formosa Endowed Professor of Mechanical Engineering and serves as the Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Programs and Faculty Development in the College of Sciences and Engineering. He received his BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI and PhD from Louisiana State University, LA., Dr. Mensah has advanced his career and contributed to the higher education in Louisiana and the United States. Dr. Mensah serves as a member of the 2021 inaugural Standing Council of the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA).  ERVA is a five-year initiative funded at a level of $8M, through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering to enable the United States (US) to maintain its leadership in research and innovation with respect to the evolving engineering landscape. Dr. Mensah served as a Program Director in the Division of Human Resources Development at the National Science Foundation from 2007-2009. Dr. Mensah is the Principal Investigator and Director or co-PI of several funded research awards including the following: 

• Louisiana Board of Regents
  • SUBR/Board of Regents/SREB Doctoral Fellowship 8/2022 to 7/2025 $47.5 K, PI
  • SUBR/Board of Regents/SREB Doctoral Fellowship 8/2021 to 7/2024 $90 K, PI
  • SUBR/Board of Regents/SREB Doctoral Fellowship 8/2020 to 7/2023 $45 K, PI
  • Southern University System – Cybersecurity Talent Initiative Program (SUS-CyberTip) Phase 2, 06/2022 to 05/2023, $205,885, co-PI
  • Southern University System – Cybersecurity Talent Initiative Program (SUS-CyberTip), 06/2021 to 05/2022, $245,244, co-PI
    
    
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • NSF EPSCoR Track 2 FEC- Rapid Qualification for Additively Manufactured Safety-Critical Components (2022-2026), $4 Million , PI
  • CREST Center for Next Generation Multifunctional Composites, 2017-2023, $5.2 Million PI
  • Louis Stokes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Pathways and Research Alliances: Louis Stokes Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LS-LAMP) ($3.2 M 2020-25). LS-LAMP is a statewide alliance of 14 institutions. PI
  • Louisiana Materials Design Alliance (2020-2025) $20 Million. He serves as a senior Co-Investigator and member of the Leadership Team
  • Enhancing Additive Manufacturing with Cybersecurity and Virtual Reality, 2019-2024, Amount $1,650,090, Co-PI
    
    
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • Tailorable Universal Feedstock for Forming (TuFF) NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) funded by NASA Headquarters/University of Delaware, 10/2020 to 9/2025, $400,000
  • Additive Manufacturing of Fire Retardant and Repairable Composite Structures Based on Lunar Regolith and Vitrimer Epoxy under Lunar Conditions, NASA Marshal Space Flight Center, 9/2021 to 8/2022, $51,783
    
    
• Industry
  • Formation of Complex 3D Metal Architecture Using 3D Printed Polymers as Electroplating Scaffolds, funded by Clarkson Aerospace Corp, 10/2021 - 9/2023, $249,974 Co-PI
  • Modeling and Analysis of Cryogenic Thermal Transitions using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Thermomechanical Analysis, United Launch Alliance, $50 K 8/2020 to present, $50,000 PI
• All these projects include research Experience for undergraduates (REU) and research experiences for teachers (RET) programs that are integral components for ensuring increasing diversity and minority STEM workforce development in the USA. 

                OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER

            Fall 2021

For over 20 years, Dr. Dubytska has focused her work on understanding host-pathogen interactions, including host defense against extracellular and intracellular pathogens and detail molecular mechanisms associated with the ability of pathogens to survive inside of host cells. Her overarching research interest is in the deep mechanisms associated with the virulence of bacterial pathogens and in the development of strategies for protection and treatments against these pathogens. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of virulence can be effectively converted to practical use for disease control. A better understanding of the role of bacterial virulence genes and toxins that are delivered to host cells, and knowledge of host immune/inflammatory response is critical for the development of better intervention strategies.

More specifically Dr. Dubytska is interested in examining bacterial virulence factors that include secretion systems and effector proteins, toxins and virulence genes and the host response to those factors. A better understanding of the role of bacterial virulence genes and toxins that are delivered to host cells and knowledge of host immune/inflammatory response is critical for the development of better intervention strategies.

Dr. Dubytska's interest has never been limited to the specific pathogens. As a Molecular Biologist, she is most interested in the molecular mechanisms that allowed tiny pathogens to create various illnesses. Since August 2017, Dr. Dubytska has been working as an Associate Professor at Southern University of Baton Rouge (department of biology). Her work primarily focused on Legionella pneophilia virulence, Borrelia Burgdorferi and Edwardsiella ictaluri. She has published four peer-reviewed papers, five abstracts, one genome and one plasmid sequence. Dr. Dubytska haas received an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant number 5 P20 GM103424-15 and 3 P20 GM103424-15S1($70,000). Importantly, as a Principal Investigator Dr. Dubytska has received research grants from NIH $415,000, to work on Legionella pnemophila pathogeneses, and an Excellence in Research (EiR) grant from NSF in the amount of  $727,015 to work on understanding molecular mechanisms of E. ictaluri virulence.

Dr. Dubytska's goals are as follows:

• Develop a diverse and productive research program in molecular biology of bacterial pathogens.

• Provide a strong scientific basis for understanding the virulence theory.

• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in their research career development and prepare them for successful post-graduate lives.

• Help students to develop lifelong learning skills that will allow them to become productive members of society.

• Continue to grow and improve myself in the research area.


Congratulations Dr. Dubytska. Your continuous research efforts are appreciated.

      OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER

  Spring 2021

Dr. Harold Mellieon, Jr., is an Assistant Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Agricultural Sciences. He is also the Director of Livestock Programs with the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.  He joined Southern University in August 2015.

His current awards as principal investigator total over $950,000 from USDA, Louisiana Board of Regents, and the Southern University True Blue Foundation.

Dr. Mellieon is also a coordinator of the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Science Summer Beginning Agricultural Youth Opportunities Unlimited (BAYOU) which is responsible for recruiting students to the College of Agriculture and introducing them to future career paths.  Once students enroll in the department, he serves as a mentor to ensure students are exposed to research and other experiential learning opportunities throughout their undergraduate career. He also supervises undergraduate students during their honors thesis research and defense.

Under the SU Ag Center, Dr. Mellieon oversees the annual state livestock and poultry show which will be celebrating 79 years in 2022.  Other outreach efforts include conducting experiential animal exhibits across the state with youth and other producers, giving species specific lectures, and connecting producers with new networks to access innovative and advanced resources.

Dr. Mellieon’s current research interests include: small farm/backyard poultry and rabbit production, increased reproduction efficiency for goat producers, enhancing student engagement in hybrid/virtual courses, and use of virtual reality for teaching and learning in agriculture courses.

Dr. Mellieon serves on the JAG STARS Scholarship Committee with the focus being to recruit incoming freshmen into the College of Agriculture and award them full academic scholarships. The goal of this award is to increase the number of agriculture graduates without any undergraduate student loans as a means of financial independence and encouragement to pursue graduate and professional education and long-term careers in agriculture.

Dr. Mellieon also devotes time to student engagement in and outside of the classroom to create well rounded graduates in the department.  In Fall 2021, his team will introduce the #GrowjAGs Mobile Unit which will be a mobile agricultural lab that will be brought to schools across the state of Louisiana to share information and opportunities in agriculture. #GrowjAGs

Congratulations Dr. Mellieon. Your continuous research efforts are appreciated.

OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER
Fall 2020

Dr. Yaser Banadaki is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science. He joined Southern University in January 2016. Dr. Banadaki has a distinguished record of excellence in academic teaching and research activities and industry experience. He has published over 50 research articles and a book on Computational Modeling of Materials and Devices to address the emerging design of next-generation computer hardware. He secured several federal and state supports for his research in Machine Learning Applications for Knowledge Discovery in Science and Engineering.

His current awards totaling $715,000 secured from the National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, and Louisiana Board of Regents.

Dr. Banadaki has supervised graduate and undergraduate students for data-driven interdisciplinary projects that led to many awards including four Best Paper Awards in the 93rd and 94th Annual Meetings of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Banadaki's current research interests include Machine Learning and Data Mining for Knowledge Discovery, Cyber Security and Intrusion Detection using Machine Learning Techniques, Computational Material Science for Emerging Sensing and Information Technology, Quantum Computers and Nanotechnology and Computer Science Education for STEM.

Dr. Banadaki is also leading GenCyber Cybersecurity Program, funded by the National Security Agency, which aims to improve cybersecurity awareness among K-12 students.

Dr. Banadaki have a broad range of research experience in applying computational analysis and machine learning in a variety of research projects. Harnessing the big data revolution is among the NSF’s 10 big ideas, and “Integrating Machine Learning across its functions” is among the DoD missions. 

Congratulations Dr. Banadaki. Your continuous research efforts are appreciated.