USF welcomes accomplished group of nearly 300 new faculty

By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing

The University of South Florida is taking steps to enhance its position as one of America’s leading research universities by welcoming a talented group of 291 new faculty members this fall – up 29% from last year.  The group includes leading health experts, marine scientists, computer engineers and prominent scholars in other fields, all drawn to USF’s expanding reputation as a hub for innovation and research excellence as a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and the opportunity to join the world-class faculty already in place at the university. Of those new to USF, 35% came from AAU institutions.

“Our faculty play a vital role in fostering new knowledge and maximizing the success of our students, and we are proud to welcome hundreds of new highly accomplished scholars to the University of South Florida,” USF President Rhea Law said. “Their teaching and research excellence will benefit our students and communities in many ways, and we look forward to all they will accomplish to help USF advance as a leader in solving global problems and improving lives.” 

Ahead of the first day of fall classes on Aug. 26, new faculty members are exploring all three campuses while onboarding and attending various orientation gatherings and expos.

Kathiresan Selvam, assistant professor of molecular biosciences, brings with him funding from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the role of a novel protein in DNA repair in yeast. His research advances the understanding of deficiencies in a DNA repair pathway that has been linked to various skin cancers, including melanoma and rare genetic diseases.

“I understand USF is fast-growing and coming into its own to be one of the premier institutes in the U.S. I am eager to be a part of it, along with its growth,” Selvam said. “I am also eagerly looking forward to working with established experts in the field of DNA damage and repair.”

Among those joining USF Sarasota-Manatee this fall is Tingting Zhang, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management. Zhang brings several projects aimed at enhancing workforce readiness, promoting inclusive employment for individuals with disabilities and advancing responsible technology design in hospitality.

“The inclusion of USF in the AAU highlights the university’s commitment to excellence in research and education,” Zhang said. “I am eager to collaborate with and learn from the talented researchers and scientists at USF whose expertise and innovative approaches are invaluable. I believe that working together will not only enhance the impact of these projects, but also foster new interdisciplinary opportunities that can further advance our understanding and application of technology in business and hospitality.”

Zhang said she is also looking forward to engaging with students through interactive and experiential learning methods, as well as developing interdisciplinary courses that integrate hospitality technologies, sustainability and human wellbeing.

Edward Tomlinson, professor of management, will also join the Sarasota-Manatee campus. Tomlinson is examining the impact of planning on negotiation effectiveness and repairing trust in politically polarized workplaces. 

“I am excited to start my journey at USF because of the opportunities it affords in working with world-class researchers and highly talented students. There is an amazing collegial spirit here that will provide fertile ground for high-impact collaborations and enduring relationships,” he said. 

Sarah Lockwood, USF alumna and assistant professor of criminology, will join the St. Petersburg campus. Lockwood’s research includes the study of human trafficking, hate and bias crime and institutional responses to victimization.

“I am thrilled to collaborate with colleagues who are as passionate as I am about conducting impactful research and making a difference for communities, organizations, advocates and survivors,” Lockwood said. “I believe this position will encompass everything I am passionate about, and as an alumnus I am looking forward to returning to USF.”

Brian Maitner, assistant professor of integrative biology, also joins the St. Petersburg campus from the University of Buffalo and will continue his work with the Botanical Information and Ecology Network, which focuses on making global plant data more useful and accessible. “I’m super passionate about understanding biodiversity, particularly how we can best work together to catalog, quantify, understand and maintain it,” Maitner said.

Lucas Griffin, assistant professor of marine biology in the department of integrative biology, will join the College of Arts and Sciences,  where he will continue his research focused on marine conservation. Griffin is currently leading an Atlantic tarpon study aimed at mapping movement patterns, understanding habitat connectivity and guiding conservation efforts for Atlantic tarpon across the southeastern United States.

“I’m thrilled to join USF and collaborate with talented scientists both within the department of integrative biology and across the USF campuses,” Griffin said. “As a leading hub of marine research on Florida’s coast, USF provides an exciting opportunity to tackle the pressing challenges facing our coastal ecosystems. I look forward to contributing to impactful, science-driven solutions.”

Babak Safa, assistant professor of medical engineering, uses an array of engineering, basic science and techniques to understand the role of tissue biomechanics in human health. 

His research focuses on glaucoma and aims to better understand the risk factors of glaucoma and its physiological functions to build better treatments and reduce vision loss. 

Safa brings a National Institutes of Health grant to fund his study on primary angle-closure glaucoma, a condition that disproportionately affects women.

“USF is a fast-growing university with world-class resources to support the kind of research program I lead. Our program in medical engineering is a relatively new one in the nation, but we are rapidly growing to find our place among the top BME programs in the world,” Safa said. “I cannot imagine a better place to start my independent academic career than here.”

USF is also welcoming three new deans. This summer, Elizabeth Spiller started as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and David Blackwell began his appointment as the new Lynn Pippenger Dean of the Muma College of Business.

Dr. Sten Vermund, who is also president of the Global Virus Network, will begin as dean of the College of Public Health in January. The Global Virus Network will welcome the best virologists and public health experts to USF, including Global Virus Network co-founder Robert Gallo and his team.