2025 Research Awards Distinguished Research Professors The title of Distinguished Research Professor recognizes senior faculty members who are internationally recognized for their innovative body of work and its transformational impact on the field. The Professorship is awarded to individuals working at the very top of their discipline, who are recognized as preeminent leaders in their fields of study. Christine Szymanski, professor in the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and the Franklin College Department of Microbiology, is a leading expert in microbial glycobiology. Her research has transformed understanding of how bacterial glycosylation influences microbial pathogenesis, host interactions and vaccine development. She was the first to demonstrate that bacteria can modify proteins with N-linked glycans, a discovery that reshaped the field of bacterial glycobiology and paved the way for novel therapeutic strategies. Szymanski has authored 130 peer-reviewed publications, holds 13 patents and has secured or helped secure tens of millions of dollars in research funding from NIH, NSF and industrial collaborations. Her translational work has led to two biotech spin-offs focused on glycoconjugate vaccine development, attracting global interest in combatting diarrheal diseases and antimicrobial resistance. A Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the National Academy of Inventors, Szymanski’s pioneering research continues to advance vaccine innovation and microbial pathogenesis. Read More: Link to full article in UGA Today
