Nicholas W. Gilpin, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology and Associate Director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans, is the only Louisiana recipient of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers awarded by President Obama on January 9, 2017. According to the White House, it is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government upon science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.
The awards, established by President Clinton in 1996, are coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy within the Executive Office of the President. Awardees are selected for their pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and their commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.
Gilpin’s research is seeking solutions for some of society’s most critical challenges. His lab is investigating the neurobiology of addiction and traumatic stress disorders, both growing national health concerns. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded his work since he was a graduate student. His current funding is a Research Project (R01) grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Gilpin, who was recommended by the US Department of Health and Human Services, will formally receive his award, which includes financial support for his work, at the White House in May 2017.