Venkat “Selva” Selvamanickam, M.D. Anderson Chair Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, is this year’s recipient of the Esther Farfel Award, the highest honor given by the University of Houston to its faculty members.
Selva also earned the Excellence in Innovation Award, a new category of recognition this year. It has been an incredible year for Selva, who was also named to the National Academy of Engineering in February.
“Please join me in congratulating this year’s award recipients,” said Diane Z. Chase, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “They are examples of the outstanding faculty who are making an impact through service, teaching, and research.”
The other winners from the Cullen College of Engineering are:
- Excellence in Research: Assistant Professor — Pieremanuele Canepa, Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Excellence in Research: Assistant Professor — Abdul Latif Khan, Engineering Technology
- Excellence in Research: Associate Professor — Venkatesh Balan, Engineering Technology
- Excellence in Research: Professor — Yashashree Kulkarni, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
- Moores Professorship — Sergey Shevkoplyas, Biomedical Engineering
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award — Zahra Rouzitalab, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Rising Innovator Award — Marzia Cescon, Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Undergraduate Research Mentor Award — Chandra Mohan, Professor, Biomedical Engineering
A ceremony for the award recipients is being planned for Fall 2026.