Professor Joseph Siebenaller Receives 2019 Socolofsky Excellence in Teaching Award

Dr. Siebenaller reciveing award from Dean Peterson

Professor Joesph Siebenaller (center) surrounded by colleagues from the College of Science as he receives the 2019 Socolofsky Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Science Dean, Cynthia Peterson.Photo Credit: Elizabeth Centanni

Baton Rouge, La. - In recognition of his achievements in teaching and mentoring, Professor Joseph Siebenaller is this year’s recipient of the Dr. Marion “Soc” Socolofsky Award for Teaching Excellence. The award was established by the College of Science Dean’s Circle Executive Committee in 2013 in honor of one of LSU’s most influential leaders and educators. The award distinguishes faculty that have shown a commitment to teaching that goes above and beyond.

“Joe has been a guiding force in the Department of Biological Sciences and a role model and mentor for numerous biological sciences faculty and students,” said Cynthia Peterson, dean of the LSU College of Science and Seola Arnaud and Richard Vernon Edwards Jr. Professor. “We salute Joe for his commitment to the college and for his achievements in scientific research and education.”  

Siebenaller received a bachelor of science in zoology from the University of Wisconsin in 1972 followed by a PhD in oceanography from the University of California, San Diego in 1978. He joined the faculty in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences as an assistant professor 1985. He moved up the professorial ranks to associate professor in 1988 and full professor in 1994. He also spent nearly six years as chair of the biological sciences department.  His research centers on the effects of temperature, osmolytes and hydrostatic pressure on enzyme structure and function and on integral membrane proteins, with the objective of evaluating the importance of such factors in shaping the evolutionary adaptations of deep-sea species.
 
About the Dr. Marion “Soc” Socolofsky Award for Teaching Excellence:

Established in 2013 by the LSU College of Science Dean’s Circle Executive Committee, the Dr. Marion “Soc” Socolofsky Award for Teaching Excellence honors the legacy of Dr. Marion Socolofsky, a fierce student advocate well-known for his leadership in establishing electron microscopy as a facility at LSU. During his 36 years at LSU, Socolofsky taught microbiology to more than 12,000 students and advised more than 250 master’s and PhD students.

Nominations for the award are initiated by student and faculty recommendations and recipients are selected by college alumni and friends.