Microbiology assistant professor Beatriz León-Ruiz, Ph.D., has been named the junior faculty winner of the 2015 Dean’s Excellence Award in Research. This honor recognizes exceptional contributions made by School of Medicine faculty in service, teaching, research, diversity enhancement and mentorship. 

The microbiology department awards committee, headed by Pete Burrows, who nominated León-Ruiz for the award, pointed out her extreme productivity for someone at such an early stage in her career. They noted that she is a highly-collaborative scientist who eagerly and effectively shares her knowledge and ideas with students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty throughout UAB.