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Two University of Colorado professors who have skillfully integrated teaching and research at a high level throughout their careers at CU-Boulder have been designated as 2012 President鈥檚 Teaching Scholars.

The title of CU President鈥檚 Teaching Scholar signifies the university system鈥檚 highest recognition of excellence in and commitment to learning and teaching, as well as active, substantial contributions to scholarly work.听Each year, CU President Bruce D. Benson solicits nominations of faculty for the designation, which is a lifetime appointment.

The newly named scholars are:

Noah Finkelstein, Ph.D.,听Associate Professor, Department of Physics, 精品SM在线影片 (left)

Harihar Rajaram, Ph.D.,听Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, CU-Boulder (right)

Finkelstein has published more than 75 peer-reviewed articles since coming to CU in 2003. His previous accolades include the Outstanding Faculty Graduate Faculty Advising Award (2010), the Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Teaching Award (2007), first place in the National Science Foundation (NSF)/Science Magazine鈥檚 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge (2007), an NSF CAREER Award (2005), and a current NSF award to build a Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Learning at CU.

鈥淧rofessor Finkelstein is an award-winning classroom teacher and graduate mentor, a transformative scholar in science teaching and learning, and a tireless campus and national servant promoting research-based best practices in STEM education,鈥� wrote Paul D. Beale, professor and chair of the physics department, in the nominating letter.

Finkelstein said he鈥檚 honored to join the prestigious group of scholars.

鈥淚t speaks volumes that one of the highest level awards in the University of Colorado system focuses on education and scholarship in teaching,鈥� Finkelstein said. 鈥淚t honors our roots, state charter, and听commitment to serving the state and the nation through fundamental investment in education.

鈥淚 am deeply indebted to the wonderful community that is so committed to education -- to my research group in physics education, to the physics department, and to the campus and university as a whole for being such a supportive and engaged culture. Particularly, I thank the many students who have enriched 鈥� and will continue to enrich 鈥� my life and all of our efforts at Colorado.鈥�

Finkelstein, a winner of CU鈥檚 Diversity and Excellence Award, leads an annual delegation of students at the National Association of Black and Hispanic Physicists conference. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in mathematics from Yale University; his doctorate in applied physics from Princeton University.

Rajaram has published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal publications, and his research has been cited nearly 1,000 times, according to the Web of Science.

In a letter supporting Rajaram鈥檚 nomination, Keith R. Molenaar, chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, wrote: 鈥淗e is simply our best teacher, and his model of excellence has inspired faculty throughout the department.鈥�

Rajaram鈥檚 previous awards include the NSF CAREER award for integrating research and education in 1998 and the Charles Hutchinson Memorial College of Engineering Teaching Award from CU in 1999.

Rajaram said he鈥檚 dedicating his newest honor to his mother, an elementary and middle school mathematics teacher, and his father, a chemistry professor; both retired in the early 1990s after 30-year teaching careers.

鈥淚 am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition of 18 years of effort toward improving the clarity and effectiveness of my teaching,鈥� Rajaram said. 鈥淚 also am grateful for the feedback, appreciation and constructive criticism I have received from students and colleagues at CU over these years, which have helped me grow in many ways, both as a teacher and as a person.

鈥淚 hope that as a President's Teaching Scholar, I will be in a position to give something back to CU in return for these wonderful years. I hope to help mentor younger faculty members in the early stages of their careers, to help them discover their teaching personas and develop effective and efficient approaches to preparing their courses and lectures.鈥�

Rajaram earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in technology from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, India, and a master鈥檚 degree in science, civil and environmental research from the University of Iowa. He completed his doctorate in civil engineering at MIT.