Two distinguished faculty members are being recognized for their outstanding research. Jason Bartz, PhD, professor of medical microbiology and immunology in the School of Medicine, and Bruce Mattson, PhD, professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, will receive Creighton’s University Research Award during St. Albert’s Day/University Research Day on April 2.
This award is presented annually by the University Research Council and Creighton Provost Thomas Murray, PhD, to faculty who have demonstrated nationally and internationally recognized research, have engaged in scholarship that provides significant contribution to their discipline and have a record of research and publication while at Creighton.
Bartz, vice chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and associate dean of academic and faculty affairs in the School of Medicine, first came to Creighton as a postdoctoral fellow in 1999.
Over the past two decades, Bartz has pioneered research in infectious protein transmission and epidemiology. His research has led to greater understanding of prion-related diseases in humans and animals, and insight into the field of human protein misfolding and neurodegenerative diseases. He is the recipient of two NIH R01 grants totaling nearly $5 million and serves as co-investigator on more than $1 million of additional NIH grant funding.
He has been published in numerous top infectious disease journals such as PLoS Pathogens, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Journal of Virology and Journal of Immunology. Bartz also is an associate editor or editorial board member for five prestigious journals.
Bartz has mentored and hosted many graduate and undergraduate students and postdoctoral fellows in his laboratory. He is praised for being a dedicated teacher in a variety of graduate and professional school courses, some of his own design.
Mattson joined Creighton’s chemistry department in 1977. His scholarly interests include synthesis and characterization of inorganic complexes, and chemical pedagogy with an emphasis in green chemistry techniques.
As coordinator of the chemistry program, Mattson revamped laboratories to minimize toxic waste, teaching students how to practice sciences responsibly. This led to the publication of his first book, Laboratory for General Chemistry; An Environmentally Responsible Manual.
His interests in pedagogical innovation and environmental consciousnesses have continued with his development of safe and convenient methods for the analysis of gases for classroom demonstrations and laboratory experimentation. Mattson is a leader in the development of microscale gas chemistry, lauded by colleagues worldwide for introducing it in classrooms around the globe.
Mattson is an esteemed professor in the Chemistry Department, attracting more than $1 million in external funding while generating almost 90 peer-reviewed manuscripts and four books. He has also mentored more than 60 undergraduate students in their research projects.
View a list of past awardees.
