Scott Ballinger, Ph.D.Written by Jessica Martindale

Scott Ballinger, Ph.D., has been named the new associate dean for Faculty Affairs.

Ballinger has a broad academic background, including an undergraduate degree in Zoology, a master’s degree in Wildlife Fisheries, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and postdoctoral training in Environmental Pathology.

He is an internationally recognized scientist and expert in mitochondrial genetics, bioenergetics, and biology and has held numerous extramural research grant awards as a principal investigator.

Currently, Ballinger serves as a professor with the Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, and is the associate director of the UAB Center for Free Radical Biology.

His awards and honors include the Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Fellowship (U.S. Department of Energy); American Lung Association Young Investigator Award; a Burroughs-Wellcome Nominee, University of Vermont; an Outstanding Faculty Award, Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Students; and the College of Science Academy of Distinguished Former Students Award, Texas A&M University.

In this new role, Ballinger will continue expanding educational aspects of faculty career development, targeting both individual faculty members and department leadership.

“Over the past two decades at UAB, I have pursued a multifaceted, engaged approach toward academics,” said Ballinger. “As Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, I look forward to engaging and supporting our faculty by enhancing the educational aspects of career development in research, teaching, and service excellence. It is a great honor to be selected for this position.”

The Heersink School of Medicine strives to encourage the development of formal mentoring programs and the improvement of existing department mentoring programs.

Ballinger will assume the role of associate dean for Faculty Affairs on Jan. 1, 2023.