Tania Baker, a professor in the Department of Biology, has been selected as the next Whitehead Professor for a five-year term. The chair is funded by a gift from the late Jack Whitehead, a former life member of the MIT Corporation who also founded the Whitehead Institute.
Assistant Professor George Barbastathis of mechanical engineering is the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Professor for a three-year term. The chair was established in 1973 by the MIT Corporation to honor the late Professor and Mrs. Harold E. Edgerton, who were a source of friendship and encouragement to students and young faculty for more than half a century.
Assistant Professor John Fernandez of architecture is the newest recipient of the Class of 1957 Career Development Professorship for a three-year term. The chair recognizes innovative and imaginative teaching by young faculty members.
Alan D. Grossman, a professor of biology, is the inaugural holder of the Praecis Professorship for a five-year term. The chair was established from the proceeds of the sale of Praecis stock received through the Technology Licensing Office.
Assistant Professor Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli of mechanical engineering was awarded the Homer A. Burnell Career Development Professorship for a three-year term. The professorship was made possible from the bequest of Homer A. Burnell (S.B. 1928) to support a junior faculty member.
Assistant Professor Starling G. Hunter of the Sloan School of Management has been named to the Theodore T. Miller Career Development Professorship for a three-year term. The chair was established with a bequest from Miller (S.B. 1922).
Timothy Jamison, an assistant professor in the chemistry department, will hold the Paul M. Cook Career Development Professorship for a term of three years. The professorship was established with a contribution from Cook (S.B. 1947) to support a junior faculty member with a strong interest in materials and chemical sciences.
Douglas A. Lauffenburger, co-director of the Biological Engineering Division, has been named the next holder of the Uncas and Helen Whitaker Professorship in Health Sciences, Technology and Management for a five-year term. The chair was established in 1980 by a gift from the late Mrs. Whitaker, the first woman elected to life membership on the MIT Corporation. Uncas Whitaker was also a Corporation member.
Associate Professor Chappell Lawson of political science is the new holder of the Class of 1954 Career Development Professorship for a three-year term. The class established the chair in celebration of its 40th reunion.
Assistant Professor Carlos Lois of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences is the new holder of the Edward J. Poitras Assistant Professorship for a three-year term. The chair was established by a gift from the late Poitras (S.B. 1928).
Assistant Professor Muriel Medard of electrical engineering and computer science is an Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Professor for a three-year term. The Corporation established the professorship in 1973 to honor the Edgertons.
Professor Daniel G. Nocera of chemistry is the new W.M. Keck Professor of Energy for a five-year term. The chair was established by a grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation to honor distinguished professors whose research promises to make a fundamental contribution to the broad field of energy.
Tomaso Poggio, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences, is the next holder of the Eugene McDermott Professorship in the Brain Sciences and Human Behavior for a term of five years. The chair was established in 1979 by a grant from the Eugene McDermott Foundation. McDermott was the founder of Texas Instruments and a life member of the MIT Corporation.
Thomas Roemer, an assistant professor at the Sloan School of Management, is the new holder of the Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professorship for a three-year term.
Assistant Professor Kate Scholberg of physics was granted the Mitsui Career Development Professorship for a three-year term. The Mitsui chairs were established in 1980 through a gift by the Mitsui Group, one of the oldest and largest industrial organizations in Japan.
Assistant Professor Yang Shao-Horn of mechanical engineering is the next holder of the Atlantic Richfield Career Development Professorship in Energy Studies for a three-year term. The chair, established in 1980 by a grant from the Atlantic Richfield Foundation, was the first at MIT specifically designated to support teaching and research related to energy.
Associate Professor Emma Teng of foreign languages and literatures is the next holder of the Class of 1956 Career Development Professorship for a term of three years. The class established the chair in celebration of its 25th reunion to aid nontenured faculty members who are committed to a close coupling of teaching and research.
Alice Ting, an assistant professor of chemistry, was granted the Pfizer-Laubach Career Development Professorship for a three-year term. The chair was established by Pfizer Inc. to honor Dr. Gerald D. Laubach (Ph.D. 1950), a former president of Pfizer.
Assistant Professor Michael B. Yaffe of the biology department received a Howard S. and Linda B. Stern Career Development Professorship for a term of three years.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on October 30, 2002.
