SURA Announces Sophia Economou and John Scully as 2026 Distinguished Scientist Award Recipients

WASHINGTON - EntSun -- The Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) has selected two researchers for the 2026 Distinguished Scientist Award: Dr. Sophia Economou, T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Chair in Physics at Virginia Tech, and Dr. John Scully, Charles Henderson Chaired Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia.

As SURA's highest honor, the Distinguished Scientist Award recognizes research scientists who embody SURA's mission and values of collaboration and scientific excellence. The awardees were chosen from nominees across SURA member universities for their pioneering research and sustained commitment to collaboration.

Economou's research focuses on quantum information processing, including methods for controlling quantum bits and quantum algorithm development, laying the foundation for efficient and practical quantum technologies.

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At Virginia Tech, Economou serves as the founding director of the Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering and collaborates on large-scale quantum initiatives at the state and national level. In recognition of her contributions to quantum computing research and quantum education, she was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Economou's efforts to advance the next generation of quantum scientists span high school through postdoctoral levels, with past trainees leading quantum research across public and private sectors.

"What I love about quantum information science is that it connects the very fundamental physics of how the universe works to the leading edge of technology," Economou shared.

Scully, a globally recognized expert in corrosion, conducts research on materials degradation in harsh environments. His research has wide-ranging applications, improving the safety and reliability of infrastructure, transportation, and defense systems.

Known for his scientific leadership, Scully is a member of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and a fellow in several societies including the Electrochemical Society and ASM International. At the University of Virginia, Scully serves as co-director of the Center for Electrochemical Science & Engineering.

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Throughout his tenure, Scully has collaborated widely and mentored many early-career trainees, including nearly fifty doctoral students, fostering a global network of researchers.

"Materials science is like a team sport these days," Scully reflected. "And that's what is so much fun — being part of a big team with every level of expertise over many broad areas."

SURA President and CEO Dr. Sean Hearne said, "As leaders in their fields, Drs. Economou and Scully exemplify the caliber of scholarship and innovation that defines the SURA network."

Together, the awardees' achievements reflect SURA's commitment to advancing discovery, fostering collaboration, and developing the next generation of scientific talent while strengthening the SURA consortium and the nation's research enterprise.

Read the full announcement here.