Shikha Nangia, professor and department chair of biomedical and chemical engineering (BMCE), has received the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction. This award acknowledges faculty members who engage in collaborative work with significant intellectual value and have the potential for future impact. The contributions of these nominees create opportunities for collaboration both within the University and with external partners.
Nangia joined Syracuse University in 2012 and has since established herself as a leading expert in computational modeling, focusing on overcoming biological barriers. Her groundbreaking research addresses critical challenges in treating complex diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as investigating gut tight junctions, implantable device-related infections, and epigenetics.
She has published extensively in leading scientific journals such as Biomacromolecules, Macromolecules, Langmuir, Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), and Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC). Her work has been featured on the covers of journals including Biomacromolecules, Langmuir, Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, and Journal of Physical Chemistry. She has been recognized with several honors, including the ACS OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award (2016) and the ACS Women Chemists Committee Rising Star Award (2022).
Since 2012, Nangia has mentored approximately 110 students at various stages of their academic journeys, including graduate students, undergraduates, and high school students. Her dedication to teaching and mentoring has earned her numerous prestigious awards, such as the College Technology Educator of the Year (2016), the Meredith Teaching Recognition Award (2017), the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (2017), the Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Experience and University Initiatives (2019), and the Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award (2022).
Currently, Nangia serves as the faculty co-director of the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program. She leads several impactful initiatives, including the NSF Interactive Biomaterials REU site and the NIH ESTEEMED program, which focuses on undergraduate research training. She was named department chair of biomedical and chemical engineering in 2025 after serving an interim role in 2024.
The Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence award was presented to Nangia at the One University Awards Ceremony, an annual event to honor members of the Syracuse University community who are making a difference through academics, work, and dedicated service. The ceremony was held Friday, April 11, in Hendricks Chapel.