Wayne State University has awarded Career Development Chair Awards to seven faculty members who have distinguished themselves in the developmental stages of their scholarly careers. The awards provide recognition and support for the research and teaching endeavors of recently tenured faculty members

The awardees are Gregory Auner of Livonia, Rene Bellwied of Grosse Pointe, William Harris of Detroit, Brian Lakey of Berkley, Martha Ratliff of Ann Arbor, Patrick Woster of Canton and Sean Wuof Troy.

Auner, associate professor in the electrical and computer engineering department, is an emerging national leader in research on "smart sensors." He was instrumental in establishing a research center for this purpose at WSU, and his efforts have resulted in a $1 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as well as support from the National Science Foundation.

Bellwied, associate professor in the physics and astronomy department, is an international leader in a specialized area of nuclear physics research. He is studying nuclear matter under high temperature and density conditions similar to those that may have existed shortly after formation of the universe.

Harris, associate professor in the English department, is a playwright and poet whose works have won several national awards. His play Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil has been critically acclaimed, as has a poetry collection, Yardbird Suite: Side One.

Lakey, associate professor in the psychology department and director of WSU's Psychology Clinic, is an expert in the field of social support and its impact on reducing stress and improving mental health. Results of his research have been published in professional journals as well as book chapters, and he is currently completing a book.

Ratliff, associate professor in the English department and former director of WSU's linguistics program, is a specialist in the area of linguistics known as "tone typology." Currently, she is in the midst of a research project in which she is examining 45 languages that employ tone as a prominent feature of syntax or grammar. The study has significance for the way languages are classified.

Woster, associate professor in the pharmaceutical science department, is engaged in research on compounds that influence cell growth and division. His research offers promise for new anti-cancer therapies, and his work has received support from the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization, among other sponsors. His outstanding teaching abilities are evidenced by several awards, including WSU's prestigious President's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Wu, associate professor in the mechanical engineering department, is becoming prominent for his research into acoustics and noise control. He has successfully blended research and teaching by bringing industrial problems and current research results into the classroom. He is proficient in both basic and applied research and has won external support from government agencies as well as major corporations.