IUPUI faculty from the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and the School of Liberal Arts have been named recipients of the 2018 Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award.
Established in 2010, the award recognizes outstanding IUPUI researchers who show promise in becoming nationally and internationally known for their research and creative activity. It is given to associate professors within the first three years of being appointed or promoted to that title.
This year’s Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award recipients are Brian E. Dixon, associate professor, Department of Epidemiology, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, and Andrea R. Jain, associate professor, Department of Religious Studies, School of Liberal Arts.
Dixon and Jain spoke about their research in videos produced by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at IUPUI.
Brian E. Dixon
“The tools and platforms Brian Dixon designs, builds and evaluates are routinely deployed and used by health systems and public health agencies in Indiana. The systems therefore impact real-world practice and support future research as new data are collected by the operational systems,” said Gerardo Maupomé, associate dean of research and professor of social and behavior sciences, in a letter of recommendation. “These systems have the capacity to be replicated across the U.S. and internationally through other research programs at IUPUI.”
Andrea R. Jain
“Andrea Jain’s areas of expertise include contemporary spirituality and the history of modern yoga; the intersections of gender, sexuality and yoga; religion and politics in contemporary society; and methods and theories in the study of religion,” said Jeffrey S. Wilson, associate dean for research and professor of geography, in a letter of recommendation. “She is particularly well-known for her research focusing on the yoga industry’s relationship to capitalism and consumer culture.”
IUPUI Vice Chancellor for Research Simon Atkinson said the Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award was established to celebrate and recognize creative activity and research that impacts people across the world.
“We recognize Brian E. Dixon and Andrea R. Jain this year, but researchers and creative professionals in all 16 distinct schools at IUPUI are nationally and internationally renowned for their high-profile work,” Atkinson said. “The impact can be felt in innovations that improve quality of life, thought-provoking pieces that affirm our humanity and methods to educate the next generation of students at all academic levels.”
