Sara Pozzi receives U-M Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award
The Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards honor senior faculty who consistently have demonstrated outstanding achievements.
Sara Pozzi, a professor in the U-M Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences department, has been awarded the Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award from U-M Rackham Graduate School. This accolade is a testament to Pozzi’s outstanding contributions to nuclear engineering, her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and her exemplary dedication to research and education. Pozzi is the first NERS faculty member to receive this award in its 69-year history.
The Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards honor senior faculty who consistently have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the areas of scholarly research or creative endeavors, teaching and mentoring of students and junior colleagues, service, and other activities
Pozzi, who holds dual appointments at Michigan Engineering and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, is renowned for her groundbreaking work in nuclear materials detection, identification, and characterization. Her research, which plays a vital role in nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and national security, has earned her international recognition.
In addition to her research, Pozzi has made significant contributions to the academic community. She is the founding director of two major consortia, the Consortium for Verification Technology (CVT) and the Consortium for Monitoring, Technology, and Verification (MTV). These initiatives have brought together multiple universities and national laboratories to develop new technologies for nuclear treaty verification.
Her leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion is equally commendable. As the inaugural Director of DEI for Michigan Engineering, Pozzi has spearheaded efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for students, faculty, and staff. She is also a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor.
Pozzi’s dedication to mentoring is reflected in her role as a guide and advisor to over 250 students within the consortia and her graduation of 30 PhD students who have gone on to successful careers in academia, national laboratories, and industry.
Michael J. Solomon, Dean and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Graduate Studies, expressed his admiration and congratulations to Pozzi in a letter, highlighting her well-deserved honor and the impact of her work on both the university and the broader field of nuclear engineering.
The award was formally presented to Pozzi by Solomon at the U-M Faculty Awards Dinner this week.