The 2025 recipients of the University of Utah Presidential Scholar Award have been announced, and their research is leading the way in scientific education, developmental biology and exercise physiology.
“What connects this year’s Presidential Scholar cohort is their commitment to turning research into real-world impact,” said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. “Whether uncovering how zebrafish heal, how our metabolism adapts to modern life or how science is learned, each of these scholars is advancing knowledge and discovery with the power to change lives.”
James Gagnon, associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences; Katsu Funai, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology; and Lauren Barth-Cohen, associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, have been given this honor because of their exceptional potential and significant contributions to scholarship, education and outreach at the U.
“Our Presidential Scholars embody the spirit of curiosity and collaboration that defines the U,” says Bob Carter, MD, CEO for U of U Health and executive vice president for health sciences. “Their work not only deepens our understanding of human health and learning but also paves the way for innovations that will improve lives across Utah and beyond.”
This award is accompanied by $10,000 in funding, provided by an anonymous donor, each year for three years. Recipients can use these funds at their own discretion to support their scholarly, teaching and/or outreach activities. The U hopes that this will recognize the achievements of mid-career faculty, support efforts to further their research missions and enhance retention.
“I am proud of these scholars and the work they do to learn more about issues that impact our community,” Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Mitzi Montoya said. “Their findings can help us build a brighter, healthier future.”
James Gagnon
James Gagnon is interested in learning how animals change as they grow, age and face challenges in their environment. Using the zebrafish as a model organism, he manipulates their genes, cells and environments to better learn how vertebrates function when faced with specific problems, such as injury, aging and infection. He runs the Gagnon Lab, which employs students who get to conduct projects of their own. Recently, one of those students conducted research that led to the lab discovering how zebrafish create their own sunscreen to protect themselves from harmful UV radiation—a skill Gagnon hypothesized has been lost in mammals. “I hope our research is valuable because some of the specific insights we make might ultimately help us think about treatments for humans,” Gagnon says. “But I think our greatest impact will be sharing the joy of scientific discovery with the world and helping them see the joy of simple experiments.”
Katsu Funai
Katsu Funai’s research focuses on what happens when there’s a mismatch between how many calories a person consumes versus how many they expend. In other words, he studies how physical inactivity can lead to diseases, such as diabetes. As weight loss drugs have soared in popularity over the last few years, Funai’s research has homed in on the effect these drugs can have on the body on a molecular level, especially when the patient doesn’t exercise. With this being such a clinically relevant topic, Funai says, “It feels validating that what I’m doing is exciting not just for me, but for the general public.” While this research looks promising for better understanding the benefits of exercise, he adds, “What I’m most proud of is being able to provide this laboratory for students to come in and receive scientific training, but also become a better person by learning perseverance, patience, being kind to others and more.”
Lauren Barth-Cohen
Lauren Barth-Cohen studies how people—whether they’re children, undergrads or teachers themselves—learn science. Her specialty is in physics because it’s such a particular body of knowledge. Presumably, every student comes into a physics class with some understanding of gravity, momentum and thermodynamics, because these concepts affect everyone’s daily life from the time they’re born. Barth-Cohen wants to see how instruction adds to or changes people’s existing intuitive knowledge about the physical world. This research is critical for supporting our community. “My research supports the development of curriculum, teaching materials, and courses—for all ages—that are research-based,” Barth-Cohen says. “I’m really thinking about how to support learning so that down the road, we can make this learning more accessible to people who need it.”