Sixteen University of Pittsburgh faculty members earned the 2025 Chancellor’s Distinguished Awards across three categories. The awards honor outstanding individuals whose scholarly commitments and contributions in research, teaching or public service have advanced the Pitt community or their respective fields.
Each recipient receives a letter from Chancellor Joan Gabel, a $2,000 cash prize and a $3,000 grant to support their work. Awardees will be recognized at the Faculty Honors Convocation at 3 p.m. April 3 in Alumni Hall.
Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Awards
Senior category
Piotr Hajłasz, a professor of mathematics in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, was honored for his groundbreaking contributions to mathematics, including work on Sobolev (now Hajłasz-Sobolev) spaces, which has become fundamental in the analysis of metric geometry. Hajłasz’s peers praised his ability to “bridge abstract theoretical concepts with practical applicability” and described him as an inspiring mentor and a leader in mathematical analysis and geometric function theory.
Junior category
Rachel Bezanson, an associate professor of physics and astronomy in the Dietrich School, was honored for her innovative research, work to improve the excellence of the field of astronomy and strong leadership of multiple successful collaborations for observational research programs on the James Webb Space Telescope. Her peers described her as “one of the most promising young researchers in … galaxy evolution,” who is leading “one of the most critical extragalactic surveys in astronomy.”
Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Awards
Olga Klimova, a teaching assistant professor of Slavic languages and literatures and director of the Russia Program in the Dietrich School, was recognized for her continuous and creative innovation of Russian language instruction as well as her high-profile and widely recognized service as a national leader in the space.
David Nero, a teaching associate professor of physics and astronomy in the Dietrich School, was awarded for his use of evidence-based techniques to improve the physics curriculum, his dedication to excellence and improvement in instruction through a long-standing involvement with the Discipline-Based Science Education Research Center and his service on multiple committees within the physics and astronomy department.
You can read the full story and see the other Awardees on PittWire.