2025 President’s Award recipients, who received a $2,500 cash award and a plaque, include the following.
President's Award for Research Excellence: Established Faculty
- Haoran Sun, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Chemistry
President's Award for Research Excellence: New or Mid-Career Faculty or Staff
- Ranjeet John, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biology
President's Award for Research Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Lisa MacFadden, Ph.D., director of biomechanics research and professor of practice in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
President's Award for Research Creativity
- Sonja Kraus, D.M., associate professor of cello/bass in the Department of Music
“I am honored to recognize Haoran Sun, Ranjeet John, Lisa MacFadden and Sonja Kraus for their remarkable research efforts and successes,” said USD President Sheila K. Gestring. “These four individuals are committed to moving the university forward while making meaningful contributions in their respective fields. We are so proud to have such exceptional researchers here at USD.”
Candidates were reviewed based on past and current research accomplishments, including criteria such as publications, presentations, successful grantsmanship, peer review experience, maintenance of an active graduate or undergraduate program and being conferred other competitive research awards. The Innovation & Entrepreneurship award further requires that the winner demonstrate innovative thinking or research findings that had promising commercial potential, as well as a concept that had progressed beyond the theoretical stage to the applied stage.
Haoran Sun was awarded the President’s Award for Research Excellence: Established Faculty: for his collaboration and external funding that brought positive, national visibility to USD for chemistry. Sun’s research focuses on organoelectronic materials, crystal engineering, battery materials and synthetic methodologies for organofluorine molecules. Sun has published over 80 peer-reviewed publications, five granted U.S. patents, three pending U.S. patent applications and 19 funded competitive research grants as a principal investigator (PI) and co-PI, with eight more funded research grants in which he serves as senior personnel. Sun has served on the National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal review panels and served as an ad hoc reviewer for federal and private funding agencies and international peer-reviewed journals. He has also participated in over 30 talks at national and international meetings in both academic and industrial places. Mentorship has been another focus of Sun’s professional journey, with nine PH.D. students having graduated and 10 Master of Science students. Additionally, Sun has guided 24 undergraduate research students and directed eight postdoctoral and visiting scholars for research.
Ranjeet John was awarded the President’s Award for Research Excellence: New or Mid-Career Faculty or Staff for his grantsmanship endeavors. John’s research focuses on the dynamics and human modification of terrestrial ecosystems analyzed in the context of land cover/use change, human-environment interactions and extreme climate events. John has been successful as a PI and co-PI on funded grants totaling more than $2.09 million. He has published 59 peer-reviewed academic journal articles and eight scholarly book chapters. Of these, 19 journal articles and three book chapters have been published since arriving at USD, with seven articles including graduate-student co-authors. John has presented at several conferences and is on the editorial board for multiple journals. He has taken an active role in teaching, mentoring graduate research and growing enrollment for the geospatial analysis programs.
Lisa MacFadden was awarded the President’s Award for Research Innovation & Entrepreneurship for her contributions to bridging the gap between basic science, applied research and commercialization in biomedical engineering, biomechanics and medical innovation. Her work in these areas has yielded multiple innovations with technological expertise in machine learning, motion capture systems, wearable sensors and 3D printing to explore research with real-world applications. Through her startup initiative, DakotaMotion Labs, as well as her partnerships with Sanford Health, Avera Health, Francis Medical and many other industry partners, MacFadden has developed research initiatives that have received external funding, including National Institutes of Health Start-Up Central grants and selection for the NSF Great Plains I-Corps program. MacFadden demonstrates her commitment to mentorship through the USD Fellowship for the Underrepresented in Science and Engineering and National Biomechanics Day, as well as her mentorship of undergraduate, graduate and medical students, which has enhanced opportunities for students to witness ongoing innovation in the regional biomedical community.
Sonja Kraus was awarded the President’s Award for Research Creativity for her work as a cellist performer, with international contributions to music performance and cello pedagogy knowledge. Kraus’ performance resume includes solo performances, chamber music recitals, concerto concerts and masterclasses worldwide. Since starting at USD, she has performed in 55 full recitals, 33 guest appearances, 52 masterclasses in 14 states and territories, four international festivals, and she has served as a guest artist for more than 10 institutions. She has been part of five CD publications and 18 conference proposals and five presentations at universities. Kraus played a vital role in helping USD and the National Music Museum secure the Cancelosi Collection of the cellos and bows. This gift that enables USD students to practice and perform on 17th and 18th-century instruments. Her creative impact is measured by providing students with knowledge and opportunities through her classes and USD Cello/Bass Day, as well as the opportunity for students to perform with her in the ensemble, Zusammen.
