LSU Celebrates Six Faculty Members as Rainmakers in Research

The distinguished recipients include early, mid-career, and senior researchers known for their success in securing external funding, publishing in prestigious journals, and receiving recognition both nationally and internationally.

Robert Twilley, LSU's Vice Chancellor of Research & Economic Development, emphasized the importance of research in LSU's ambition to rank among the top 50 research universities in the nation. He stated, "The researchers and scholars we recognize with these Rainmaker awards are among the very best within each of their disciplines, driving science and humanity forward. Their work impacts their students, their peers, and the world, and it is an honor to have them here at LSU."

The Rainmaker awards, presented in partnership with Campus Federal Credit Union, include a one-time cash stipend of $1,000. This year's winners will be celebrated on Thursday, March 19, during a reception at the South Stadium Club at Tiger Stadium.

The following faculty members have been recognized:

**Emerging Scholar in Arts, Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences**

**Kevin Smiley, Sociology, College of Humanities & Social Sciences**

Associate Professor Kevin Smiley examines the interplay between environmental change and social inequalities, particularly how vulnerable populations are affected by natural disasters. In 2023, he received the Rising Faculty Research Award from the LSU Alumni Association and was awarded the NSF CAREER for his ongoing research on extreme weather's impact on communities. He has also contributed significantly to public discourse on these topics through various media outlets. Smiley holds a PhD in Sociology from Rice University, earned in 2017.

**Emerging Scholar in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics**

**Eric Burns, Physics & Astronomy, College of Science**

Associate Professor Eric Burns focuses on supernovae and gamma-ray bursts to explore fundamental physics. He leads an international collaboration that comprises the InterPlanetary Network, which is the largest scientific instrument ever built. His research has achieved significant funding and garnered over 90 peer-reviewed publications. Burns, who obtained his PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2017, has had his work featured in major publications.

**Mid-Career Scholar in Arts, Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences**

**Juliet Brophy, Geography & Anthropology, College of Humanities & Social Sciences**

Associate Professor Juliet Brophy’s work centers on ancient human evolution, particularly in South Africa. She has made substantial contributions to the understanding of early hominins and their environment, including identifying a new species, *Homo naledi*. Her influential research has amassed significant public interest, demonstrated by a TEDx talk that garnered over 2.5 million views. Brophy earned her PhD in Biological Anthropology from Texas A&M University in 2011.

**Mid-Career Scholar in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics**

**Bhuvnesh Bharti, Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering**

Associate Professor Bhuvnesh Bharti's research on colloidal science and the environmental impact of microplastics has earned him numerous accolades, including an NSF CAREER award. His publications have received over 4,700 citations, making him one of the highly cited faculty at LSU. Bharti completed his PhD in Physical Chemistry at Technische Universität Berlin in 2012.

**Senior Scholar in Arts, Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences**

**Kristine DeLong, Geography & Anthropology, College of Humanities & Social Sciences**

Professor Kristine DeLong studies past climate systems and has contributed to significant research on the Alabama Underwater Forest Project. Her work serves to enhance understanding of climate variability and has received widespread recognition, including major media coverage. She holds a PhD in Marine Science from the University of South Florida, earned in 2008.

**Senior Scholar in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics**

**Fabio Del Piero, Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine**

Professor Fabio Del Piero focuses on comparative pathology and zoonotic diseases. With over 170 peer-reviewed articles, he is a highly prolific researcher recognized both nationally and internationally. Del Piero earned his DVM degree from the University of Milan in 1990 and his PhD in Pathology and Arbovirology from the University of Turin in 2001.

Each awardee exemplifies the high standards of research at LSU, making significant contributions to their fields.