Five Penn professors receive Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers

Five Penn faculty members were among the 400 people honored as recipients of the 2024 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.

The PECASE Award is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to top scientists and engineers beginning their careers, recognizing early-career researchers who show great potential for leading scientific advancements in the 21st century. This year’s awardees are employed or funded by 14 participating agencies and receive a plaque and funding from their agency for up to five years to advance his or her research. 

Associate professor of psychology Allyson Mackey received recognition from the National Science Foundation for her groundbreaking research that explores how brain changes drive shifts in the mind, both during development and in response to various experiences. She joined Penn’s Department of Psychology faculty in 2016 and has published over 20 titles since then.

Nursing professor Catherine McDonald, a chair of the Department of Family and Community Health, is a pediatric nurse scientist whose work is dedicated to promoting health and reducing injuries among youth. She also leads a research program on adolescent injury prevention that is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Melanie Pellecchia is an assistant professor of psychology and part of the Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Center for Mental Health. Her award, which is recognized by the Department of Education, lies in enhancing the implementation of evidence-based treatments for young children on the autism spectrum, especially in underserved communities.

Associate communication professor Andy Tan, recognized by the National Institutes of Health, focuses on advancing communication science to achieve health equity. By analyzing the impact of marketing, media, and public health messages, Tan aims to understand their effects on health behaviors and outcomes among diverse populations.

Bo Zhen, the Jin K. Lee Presidential Associate Professor in the department of physics and astronomy, leverages experimental nano-photonics to address challenges in condensed matter physics and quantum electrodynamics, with a focus on practical applications. His award is supported by the Army Research Office, and he joined the Department of Physics in January 2018. 

The PECASE, established by President Clinton in 1996, honors scientists and engineers with exceptional leadership potential early in their research careers. The PECASE awards are presented annually at the White House and are based on recommendations from the participating agencies.