K-State chapter of Sigma Xi honors outstanding junior and senior scientists

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News release prepared by: Shelby Haag, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Monday, April 2, 2007

K-STATE CHAPTER OF SIGMA XI HONORS OUTSTANDING JUNIOR AND SENIOR SCIENTISTS

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's chapter of Sigma Xi, a scientific research society, has selected its 2007 Sigma Xi Outstanding Junior and Senior Scientists.

Xiuzhi Susan Sun, professor of grain science and industry, is being honored as the Outstanding Senior Scientist.

Seok-Ho Park, research chemist in the Grain Quality and Structure Research Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service, and Sigifredo Castro-Diaz, instructor in the department of chemical engineering and an associate engineer at K-State's Advanced Manufacturing Institute, are the 2007 Outstanding Junior Scientists.

Recognition of the honorees will be at the Sigma Xi banquet at 6 p.m. Monday, April 23, in the K-State Student Union's Flint Hills Room. Awardees will receive $100 honoraria and certificates from the K-State chapter of Sigma Xi.

The awards are given to recognize K-State Sigma Xi members who have demonstrated outstanding ability in scientific research. Selection of recipients is based on nominations, peer review and recommendations. The Outstanding Junior Scientist award is given to someone who received his or her terminal degree less than seven years ago.

Sun said she is honored to be acknowledged as a scientist who has made significant contributions to the scientific research society.

"I feel lucky to be nominated and recognized by my colleagues and peers in my research field," Sun said. "The award encourages me to continue contributing as much as I can to improve the public environment and life in the future."

At K-State, Sun has brought in more than $5 million in funding and co-authored a book, "Biobased Polymers and Composites." She has published more than 100 journal articles, has five patents and is currently the director of K-State's Bio-Materials and Technology Laboratory.

She also was the National Research Initiative technical panel manager of biobased products and bioenergy for 2004 and 2005. She received a bachelor's and a master's from Northeast Agricultural University of China and a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana. She conducted postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University.

Park has received three honors from the Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service, and his research presentations have been recognized twice by the Milling and Baking Division of the American Association of Cereal Chemists International. Park obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from Korea University in Seoul, Korea, and a second master's degree and doctoral degree from K-State in grain science and industry. Research at the Grain Quality and Structure Research Center of the Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service is conducted in cooperation with K-State.

Castro has received numerous leadership awards from K-State and the department of chemical engineering. He received his bachelor's degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia. He earned both master's and doctoral degrees in chemical engineering from K-State.