Faculty Members Receive Research Grants
University of Scranton professors were awarded faculty development grants for the summer of 2025. Top row, from left: Mehmet Bastug, Ph.D., Melanie Caughey, Ph.D., John Deak, Ph.D., JoyAnna Hopper, Ph.D., Geng Liu, Ph.D. Bottom row: Farshad Merrikh-Bayat, Ph.D., Marc Shapiro, Ph.D., Janice Voltzow, Ph.D., Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D.The University of Scranton awarded faculty development grants for the summer of 2025 to nine faculty members.
Mehmet Bastug, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice, cybersecurity and sociology, received a grant to research “Cyber-Threats and Cyber-Attacks: What Everyone Needs to Know (book project).” Dr. Bastug has worked at the University since 2020. Dr. Bastug earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Turkish National Police University, a Bachelor of Science degree from Akdeniz University and master’s and doctorate degrees from Rutgers University.
Melanie Caughey, Ph.D., assistant professor of education, received a grant to research “Suitability of Information About Gifted Education in Special Education Textbooks.” Dr. Caughey has worked at the University since 2023. Dr. Caughey earned a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, a master’s degree from Duquesne University and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.
John Deak, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, received a grant to research “Development of Evaporation Rate Measurements for the Determination of Soft Molecular Aggregate Structure and Inter-Aggregate Interactions in Liquid Solution.” Dr. Deak has worked at the University since 2002. Dr. Deak earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester.
JoyAnna Hopper, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, received a grant to research “The Effects of COVID-19 on Combined State-Level Environmental Agencies.” Dr. Hopper has worked at the University since 2020. Dr. Hopper earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri.
Geng Liu, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and engineering, received a grant to research “Hydrodynamic Effects of Seal Whiskers’ Bending and Tapering Features on Flow Sensing.” Dr. Liu has worked at the University since 2024. Dr. Liu earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Science and Technology of China and a Ph.D. from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Farshad Merrikh-Bayat, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and engineering, received a grant to research “Design, Construction and Data-Driven Control of a Lab-Scale Wind Turbine with a New Algorithm.” Dr. Merrikh-Bayat has worked at the University since 2023. Dr. Merrikh-Bayat earned a BSc., K.N., from Toosi University of Technology and a MSc., Ph.D., from Sharif University of Technology.
Marc Shapiro, Ph.D., professor of theology/religious studies, received a grant to research “Rabbi Saul Berlin and His Forged Work of Jewish Law.” Dr. Shapiro has worked at the University since 1996. Dr. Shapiro earned a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Janice Voltzow, Ph.D., professor and chair of biology, received a grant to research “Mechanical Properties of the Shells of Mussels.” Dr. Voltzow has worked at the University since 1996. Dr. Voltzow earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Duke University.
Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D., associate professor of English and theatre, received a grant to research “Performance Crime and Performance Justice on January 6, 2021, and Beyond.” Dr. Willenbrink has worked at the University since 2009. Dr. Willenbrink earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa and master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
