2025 Rutgers Brain Health Institute Research & Service Awards
Honoring Excellence in Neuroscience Research and Service
We hosted the 2025 BHI Research and Service Awards Ceremony on December 12 at the Rutgers Club. The awards recognized outstanding achievements across five categories, honoring faculty and staff who have significantly impacted brain health research and service. Each awardee received a commemorative plaque and a monetary award.
Early Career Faculty “Rising Star” Award
Mark Rossi, PhD
RESEARCH
Research in Mark’s lab combines calcium imaging, electrophysiology, and viral based genetic tools to perturb and observe neural activity during feeding and motivated behavior.
Won the 2025 Rutgers Health Chancellor’s Excellence in Basic Sciences Research Award.
SERVICE
- Directs/co-directs multiple graduate courses
- NeuroSURP and CHIRP faculty mentor
- Serves on a host of Faculty Search and BHI Committees
GRANT SUPPORT
- Principal investigator (PI) on a NIDDK R01
- Whitehall Foundation Research Grant
- Busch Biomedical Pilot Grant
Mid-Career Faculty “Shining Star” Award
Brian D. Greer, PhD, BCBA-D
RESEARCH
Brian’s work focuses on the fields of behavioral psychology, autism research, and developmental disabilities. In doing so, he integrates basic, translational, and applied science to address the assessment and treatment of individuals with autism intellectual and developmental disabilities.
SERVICE
- Directs the Children’s Specialized Hospital–Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH–RUCARES).
- In addition to center/lab mentorship, served on over 30 dissertation and thesis committees
- Serves or served as associate editor, guest associate editor, or guest editor for a host of field leading journals
GRANT SUPPORT
- Principal investigator (PI/Co-I) on four R01s
- Helped secure >$15.8 million in extramural funding from the NIH and the New Jersey Department of Health
BHI “Outstanding Service” Award for Faculty
David Zald, PhD
RESEARCH
Researchers in David’s lab use a combination of MRI and PET imaging to examine the links between individual differences in brain structure and function and the risk for, and expression of, psychopathology.
SERVICE
- Directs the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research (CAHBIR)
- Instrumental in the Conte Center partnership with Princeton University and the RARC’s recent center initiative
- Manages the CAHBIR’s pilot grant program
- Senior mentor for multiple junior BHI faculty
- Serves on multiple Center and administrative search committees including for the Associate Vice President for Healthcare IT and the Director of the Biomedical Informatics Center
- Chair of the Cognitive and Sensory Neuroscience Faculty Advisory Working Group (FAWG)
BHI “Outstanding Service” Award for Staff
Emily Balcke, M.Sc.
Emily serves as the Program Manager for the Rutgers Addiction Research Center (RARC) in the BHI. As the inaugural program manager of the RARC, Emily joined Rutgers three years ago, She has overseen the growth of the RARC to >120 affiliated faculty from 40 different departments.
SERVICE
- Supports the research operations of the RARC
- Member of the RWJBarnabas IFPR–RARC Research Collaborative Steering Committee
- Helped identify and recruit RARC and BHI affiliated faculty
- Played a leadership role in training program development, supporting a NIDA T32, a NIAAA postdoctoral T32, and two R25s focused on undergraduate training
- Grant submission support, resulting in over $8.5 million in new NIH funding over the past three years
- Lead administrative role in the recent submission P50 Center Grant
Senior Faculty “Super Star” Award
John Pintar, PhD
RESEARCH
Dr. Pintar was one of the first to study the nervous system using genetic approaches, producing over 15 lines of mice containing null alleles for genes involved in development and function. Developed opioid system knock-outs examining the effects on pain perception, anxiety, and drug tolerance and dependence. Publishing 173 manuscripts, 6 book chapters and 14 reviews.
SERVICE
- Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program
- >50% of recent students have received independent external funding
- Mentored 15 graduate students and 9 post-doctoral fellows
- Served on >75 NIH review panels
GRANT SUPPORT
- Received 12 NIH R-01 awards as sole PI (10 funded on first submission)
- Supported by foundations, NJ state agencies, and industry partners including Lilly, Astra-Zeneca, Augst Wolfe and Merck.
Senior Faculty “Super Star” Award
Yuan-Xiang Tao, PhD
RESEARCH
Yuan-Xiang’s laboratory investigates novel molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie chronic pain (including neuropathic and inflammatory pain) and Opioid-associated disorders. As a result of this work, he has published >190 manuscripts and currently holds 6 associated patents. Received the designation as a Rita Allen Foundation Pain Scholar.
SERVICE
- Vice Chair of Research in the Dept of Anesthesiology
- Director of the Center for Pain Medicine
- Mentored >100 trainees from students to faculty
Receive numerous awards including the New Jersey Medical School 2016-2017 Faculty of the Year Award for Basic Science
