Ohio State’s Award-Winning Faculty Honored with Recent Recognitions

The Ohio State University is home to award-winning faculty and staff who conduct cutting-edge research, provide critical services and discover life-saving treatments.

Below are just a few examples of the honors and awards recently earned by Ohio State’s extraordinary team.

  • Yizhou Dong, PhD
    Professor Dong received the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award by the National Institutes of Health for his inspiring research.
  • Engineering Research Team
    A team of researchers from the College of Engineering received a nearly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to bolster the robotics field.
  • Chen Gu, PhD
    College of Medicine researcher Chen Gu received a federal grant for nearly $1.36 million to further his research on mild traumatic brain injuries.
  • College of Nursing faculty inducted into Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame
    Two College of Nursing faculty, Sonia A. Duffy, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Rita H. Pickler, PhD, RN, FAAN, were recently inducted into the Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Duffy and Pickler were two of the nineteen total nurses who were given the honor.
  • T.J. Plageman
    College of Optometry Assistant Professor T.J. Plageman was awarded a five-year, $1.93 million grant by the National Institute of Health to continue his research on the development of the eye.

HR Focus News

The power of purpose: How the Leadership Certificate Program is transforming campus leaders

At The Ohio State University, people leaders have access to resources that help them continuously grow as leaders. As part of this investment in excellence, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and Ohio State Human Resources partnered in 2025 to launch a section of the Leadership Certificate Program for Ohio State employees.

Learn about the newly redesigned YP4H

Ohio State has launched a new Your Plan for Health (YP4H) wellness portal that offers more ways to explore wellness resources and earn rewards for the activities that matter most to you.

Ohio State honors 752 faculty and staff for milestone service

The Ohio State University celebrated long-serving employees at the annual Faculty and Staff Service Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 10. A total of 752 faculty and staff were honored this year for reaching milestone anniversaries, ranging from 25 to 55 years of service.

Important 2026 Benefits Reminders

Here are a few important reminders about your 2026 benefits, key deadlines, and wellness actions you may need to consider. Review the information to help you understand what to expect and actions you may need to take.

Recent HR News

Revisions to Drug-Free Workplace Policy

The Ohio State University has revised the Drug-Free Workplace Policy, 7.30 to further clarify safety and standards across all work environments, including remote and on-call locations. Key changes include updated procedures for reasonable suspicion testing, new guidance on prescription drug accommodations and refined definitions.

Spring Learning Series on Retirement Living

A national retirement association, Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education, is offering a virtual learning series, “Charting the Journey to a Fulfilling Retirement"

Save smart. Gain insights. Plan ahead.

Join the Human Resources team and our expert partners for the third Virtual Retirement Fair. A series of webinars offering valuable insights will be held Feb. 9-13. Don't miss this opportunity to confidently plan your financial future. Visit the Virtual Retirement Fair website for registration and schedule details.

Nominations open for the Distinguished Staff Awards

The annual Distinguished Staff Awards exist to shine a light on these individuals, and nominations are now open. The nomination deadline is Monday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m.

Review your 2026 benefits summary by Dec. 5

Your 2026 benefits summary is now available in Workday. Take a few minutes to review your elections and make sure everything looks right before the final change window closes.