Petia Vlahovska Awarded Ver Steeg Fellowship

Northwestern Engineering’s Petia Vlahovska has received the 21st annual Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellowship Award. 

The Ver Steeg Fellowship supports the research of a tenured Northwestern faculty member whose work enhances the reputation of Northwestern nationally and internationally and comes with a one-time research grant of $45,000.

Jinjoo Cho, an associate professor of violin in the Bienen School of Music and an accomplished performer and teacher, was also honored.

“Northwestern’s reputation for excellence in research and teaching is earned through the dedication and innovative work of faculty members such as Professor Vlahovska and Professor Cho,” Provost Kathleen Hagerty said. “I am proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their service.”

Vlahovska is a professor of engineering sciences and applied mathematics in the McCormick School of Engineering.

An internationally recognized researcher, her work spans fluid dynamics, soft and active matter, and biomembranes. In her fluid dynamics laboratory, she combines deep mathematical insight with innovative experimental investigations. Her research has driven the development of novel, non-invasive experimental methods to characterize fundamental membrane properties such as bending rigidity and the ability to store electrical energy.

Her methods have also revealed membrane viscosity—a long-overlooked factor in membrane deformation—which has yielded new understanding of the structure and function of biological cells.

Vlahovska is the recipient of the NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award.