Three Sciences Faculty Honored With University Professorships

Three faculty members in the College of Sciences at NC State have been honored by the university with professorships of distinction that recognize top scholarly work.

Karen Daniels of the Department of Physics, David Eggleston of the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Carolyn Mattingly of the Department of Biological Sciences were named Distinguished Professors. They were recognized for their sustained records of outstanding scholarship and leadership in their fields.

Daniels is an expert in the physics of complex materials. She studies the non-equilibrium and nonlinear dynamics of granular materials, fluids and gels. Her research provides insight into biological and geological phenomena by investigating how failure occurs, non-trivial patterns arise, and what controls the transitions between different classes of behaviors.

Daniels has also been a leader in promoting inclusivity in the field through her work with students and underrepresented groups. She serves as a faculty advisor for Women in Physics at NC State and the NC State Chapter of the National Society of Black Physicists. She joined NC State faculty in 2005.

Eggleston is recognized for his work in marine science. He leads the Marine Ecology and Conservation program at NC State, where his research spans fisheries ecology, habitat restoration, conservation biology, deep sea biology, detecting ecological impacts, behavioral ecology, population dynamics and modeling and marine science education. His research tests assumptions and understanding of animal behavior, population connectivity and ecosystem dynamics.

Eggleston also serves as director of NC State’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology where researchers develop innovative solutions to challenges and opportunities in marine systems and enhance community and educational outreach. He joined the NC State faculty in 1993.

Mattingly, who serves as head of the Department of Biological Sciences, is known for her work in toxicogenomics and studies how environmental exposures affect human health and disease. She and her team developed, and continue to expand, the publicly available Comparative Toxicogenomics Database to help identify and explore molecular pathways that are affected by environmental chemicals. The work could lead to improvements in exposure regulations and the treatment of certain diseases. 

In 2020, Mattingly helped secure a $7.4 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program to establish the Center for Environmental and Health Effects of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances for which she serves as director. She joined the NC State faculty in 2012.

This post was originally published in College of Sciences News.