Upstate student honored for best dissertation in SUNY system
Yunting Zhu, PhD, of the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology has been honored for writing the best PhD dissertation in the SUNY System.
SUNY Chancellor John. B. King, Jr announced Zhu as the Chancellor's Distinguished PhD Graduate Dissertation Awards winner, which recognizes the best PhD dissertations in the SUNY system. Zho’s dissertation is titled "The Neuroinflammatory Basis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: Spotlight on Brain Macrophages, Cytokines, and the Blood-Brain Barrier." The award carries with it a $5,000 cash prize.
A video featuring Zhu is available here.
"SUNY's doctoral programs are designed to prepare passionate and curious students with the research and academic infrastructure they need to transform the world around them," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Congratulations to Dr. Zhu and our five finalists on their outstanding dissertation work. We proudly celebrate excellence in research and scholarship, one of our four pillars that drive everything we do, and the recipients of this distinctive honor will undoubtedly leave a positive impact through the discovery and implementation of new ideas."
Upstate Medical President Mantosh Dewan, MD, said, also praised Zhu’s excellence. "On behalf of the entire Upstate community, I extend congratulations to Yunting Zhu for being recognized for writing the best PhD dissertation in the SUNY system. This exceptional honor reflects Yunting's prowess as a scientist and scholar, as well as speaks to the support from her adviser and our Neuroscience and Physiology faculty. We are proud of this achievement and excited to see how this work will contribute to advancing the field of neuroscience and mental health."
Zhu's dissertation researched the biological changes in the human brain that lead to the development of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, including brain inflammation and tissue-damaging immune cells. This research could then be tested further to develop early detection and new treatments targeting the immune system.
Praise for Zhu’s work came from many.
SUNY Board of Trustee Stanley S. Litow said, "SUNY is proud of the innovative research being conducted by our doctoral students to move the needle forward in their academic passions and ensure that these findings create a better world for all. On behalf of our Board of Trustees, congratulations to the students selected this year, and we look forward to continuing to support research and scholarship endeavors at all academic levels."
U.S. Rep. John W. Mannion said, "The research opportunities at SUNY Upstate and across the SUNY System drive innovation and advance solutions to complex issues. I am thrilled that the work of Dr. Yunting Zhu that will help unlock causes and treatments for severe mental health disorders, is being recognized by Chancellor King and the Board of Trustees with the Distinguished PhD Graduate Dissertation Award. As a cornerstone of NY-22, I'll continue to support SUNY Upstate's mission of providing lifesaving healthcare, cutting-edge research like Dr. Zhu's, and good-paying jobs in our community."
Toby Ann Stavisky, State Senator and Chair of the Senate's Committee on Higher Education, said, "Our SUNY doctoral-granting institutions provide graduate students with important opportunities to advance their research and further their career opportunities. I want to congratulate Dr. Zhu and all the finalists as they are recognized for their groundbreaking work in their respective fields of expertise."
State Senator Rachel May said, "Highlighting the achievements of these doctoral students demonstrates that the SUNY system attracts and graduates some of the best talent in the country, making it an invaluable asset to our state. Congratulations to all the winners of this prestigious award! A special recognition to Dr. Yunting Zhu from my Senate District at SUNY Upstate for winning first place. Your hard work, rigorous research, and brilliant dissertation have made us all proud. I am excited about what you and your peers will accomplish in the future and the wonderful contributions you will make to our state."
Alicia Hyndman, Assemblymember and Chair of the Assembly's Committee on Higher Education, said, "Congratulations to Dr. Yunting Zhu and all the finalists of this year's SUNY Chancellor's Distinguished PhD Graduate Dissertation Awards. Dr. Zhu's groundbreaking research into the neuroinflammatory basis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is a shining example of the transformative power of education and scientific inquiry. SUNY continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering academic excellence and advancing research that improves lives. I applaud SUNY Chancellor King, the Board of Trustees, and the doctoral students across the system for their contributions to innovation and discovery, and I look forward to the positive impact their work will have on communities across New York and beyond."
In addition to Zhu, five dissertation award finalists were selected and will receive a $1,000 cash award. The finalists are: Craig Kelley, Downstate Health Sciences; Jiaying Lin, University at Buffalo; Amanda Rowe, Stony Brook University; Alexis Weber, University at Albany; and Huei-Jyun Ye, Binghamton University,
Caption: Yunting Zhu, PhD, whose dissertation was honored as best in the SUNY system.