Amanda Ashley, Director of Communications for Research & Innovation, Office of the Vice President for Research
The 2026 Distinguished Research Awards honor three University of Utah faculty whose work spans advanced materials, public health, and human perception. The 2026 Distinguished Research Award (DRA), one of the university’s highest honors for sustained research excellence. exemplifies lasting impact, discovery, and public good.
This year’s awardees: Sarah Creem-Regehr, Zhigang “Zak” Fang, and Adam J. Gordon, have built careers defined by impact: shaping how we understand the world around us, translating research into real-world solutions and improving lives.
“Each of this year’s Distinguished Research Award recipients exemplifies the very best of the University of Utah’s research enterprise,” said Jake Jensen, Associate Vice President for Research. “Their work advances discovery while addressing real-world challenges, from improving human health to developing transformative materials and technologies. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding researchers.”
Sarah Creem-Regehr
Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology (College of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Sarah Creem-Regehr studies a deceptively simple question: how do we understand and move through the spaces around us?
A professor and chair of psychology with appointments in computing and neuroscience, Creem-Regehr explores how humans perceive, learn, and navigate both real and virtual environments.
Her work in the VAAST lab brings together multisensory perception, spatial cognition, and virtual environment design. By examining how people interpret space—especially in visually limited or simulated settings—her research has helped improve the effectiveness and usability of virtual environments.
Bridging psychology, technology, and neuroscience, her work has contributed to advances in both fundamental science and applied fields like visualization and computer graphics, shaping how virtual environments are designed and experienced.
Zhigang “Zak” Fang
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering (College of Science)
From industrial innovation to academic discovery, Zak Fang has spent his career turning materials science breakthroughs into real-world technologies.
Zhigang “Zak” Fang, the Ivor Thomas Endowed Chair of Metallurgy, is a globally recognized innovator whose work spans titanium metallurgy, tungsten carbide, refractory metals, and energy storage materials.
Before entering academia, Fang spent more than a decade leading industrial R&D efforts—a foundation that continues to shape his translational approach to research. His work doesn’t stop at the lab: with more than 200 peer-reviewed publica
tions, over 60 U.S. patents, and two startup companies, he has consistently bridged the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization.
His contributions have earned him election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, ASM International, and APMI International, along with honors including the Humboldt Research Award and two R&D 100 Awards. He has also played key national leadership roles, including serving as a Program Director at ARPA-E and as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials.
Adam J. Gordon
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine (School of Medicine)
For more than two decades, Adam Gordon has focused on improving care for patients too often left at the margins of the health system.
Adam J. Gordon, MD, MPH, is a leader in addiction medicine and health services research whose work centers on expanding access to care for vulnerable populations, including individuals with substance use disorders and those experiencing homelessness.
A Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Chair and professor of medicine and psychiatry, Gordon directs the Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA) and serves as Chief of Addiction Medicine within the IDEAS Center at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.
Across a 26-year career, he has led major studies and initiatives that improve patient-centered care, reduce stigma, and strengthen health systems. His research spans clinical trials, health services research, and implementation science, supported by more than 100 federally funded grants. He has authored over 410 peer-reviewed publications, with his work influencing both clinical practice and policy.
Gordon’s impact has been recognized with national honors, including the VA Health Services Research and Development Health System Impact Award and the AMERSA David C. Lewis Service Award. He is also widely recognized for mentorship, guiding trainees and faculty at all stages and earning multiple national mentoring awards.
Celebrating Research Excellence
The Distinguished Research Award recognizes faculty whose work reflects sustained achievement, national or international recognition, and meaningful contributions to their fields. This year’s recipients highlight the range and impact of research at the University of Utah—and the many ways it connects to the world beyond campus.
