Sun earns UTA's highest research honor

(Press-News.org) Yuze “Alice” Sun, an electrical engineering professor, has been elected to The University of Texas at Arlington’s Academy of Distinguished Researchers for her contributions to technologies critical to health care, environmental monitoring and national defense.

“Dr. Sun is a trailblazer in multidisciplinary research whose transformative advancements have significantly impacted devices we rely on every day to diagnose and treat disease, communicate with others and allow our military to keep us safe,” said Kate C. Miller, vice president of research and innovation at UT Arlington.

The Academy of Distinguished Researchers, previously called the Academy of Distinguished Scholars, is the most prestigious research and scholarship award at UT Arlington. It is reserved for faculty who have made substantial contributions to research and have achieved significant recognition in their respective fields.

“I’m humbled to receive this award,” said Sun, who received a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan and completed her postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health. “I am grateful to my multidisciplinary colleagues and wonderful students at UTA over the years who have helped me conduct so much exciting research.”

Since joining UTA in 2013, Sun has established herself as a leader in multidisciplinary research, driving innovations at the intersection of photonics, nanotechnology and biochemical sensing. Her work supports critical in applications in medical imaging, cancer treatment and environmental monitoring. She has developed semiconductor lasers, wearable gas analyzers and biosensing devices to address global challenges in telecommunications, health care, space exploration and defense.

Related: Professors elected to Academy of Distinguished Scholars

Over her career, Sun has secured more than $8 million in external research funding from premier organizations, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), Army Research Office, Department of Energy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. This sustained support showcases her ability to deliver high-impact research aligned with the missions of these competitive agencies. Notably, NSF has supported her work consistently for more than a decade—a testament to the strength and innovation of her ideas.

“The Academy exemplifies UTA’s commitment to exemplary research and creative activity, and this honor recognizes Dr. Sun’s outstanding research accomplishments as well as her commitment to her colleagues at UTA,” Dr. Miller said. “As she continues her groundbreaking academic career, Dr. Sun’s work promises to redefine industries and influence technologies shaping health care, sustainability and defense for years to come.”

Sun’s scholarly output is equally impressive, with more than 90 journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings, as well as three issued patents. Her work has been cited nearly 6,000 times, placing her among the most cited scholars globally in optofluidics—a field that manipulates light and fluids on a tiny scale for applications in sensing, imaging and biotechnology. Her work has been featured in prestigious journals such as ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and Sensors, highlighting its real-world relevance and innovation.

Related: Four UTA faculty named National Academy of Inventors senior members

Beyond her research, Sun is a dedicated educator who has mentored eight doctoral and 17 undergraduate students, many of whom have earned accolades in their respective fields. She has also developed new courses at UTA in areas such as nanotechnology and photonics, consistently receiving exceptional student evaluations and demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing engineering education.

Her contributions have earned numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, UTA’s University Award for Outstanding Research Achievement and Creative Accomplishment, and the College of Engineering Lawrence Stephens Award for Outstanding Research. Her leadership roles extend beyond UTA to the broader scientific community, participating in international conferences that promote global collaboration.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.

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