March 4, 2025

Profiles of excellence

For Women’s History Month, UC Irvine salutes its influential researchers

This Women's History Month, we highlight the contributions of (top row, left to right): Katrine Whiteson, Sunny Jiang, Joleah Lamb; and (bottom row, left to right) Karen Lincoln, Aomawa Shields, Luiza Osorio Silva and Roxane Cohen Silver.

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In the past year, UC Irvine News has highlighted the research accomplishments of several exceptional women researchers on campus. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are sharing their stories.

‘Who Wants to Be a Study Subject’

Karen Lincoln fosters trust by sharing results, hosting follow-up events like game shows.

Karen Lincoln standing behind a chair in her office. Karen Lincoln, is a UC Irvine professor of environmental and occupational health who directs the campus’s Center for Environmental Health Disparities Research — Karen Lincoln, a UC Irvine professor of environmental and occupational health, directs the campus’s Center for Environmental Health Disparities Research. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine

Sea change

Joleah Lamb finds reasons to be optimistic about our relationship with oceans

Joleah Lamb, UC Irvine assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, standing on a beach in front of the ocean. — Joleah Lamb, assistant professor of ecology & evolutionary biology at UC Irvine, collecting data on urban reefs in Myanmar. Credit: Michelangelo Pignani.

Exoplanet explorer

Aomawa Shields uses computer modeling to gauge extraterrestrial life possibilities

Aomawa Shields standing with arms akimbo in front of dark space backdrop with stars and planets. — Aomawa Shields, associate professor of physics and astronomy at UC Irvine. Steve Zylius/UC Irvine

Exploring tragedy’s aftereffects

Twists of fate influenced Roxane Cohen Silver’s groundbreaking work

Roxane Cohen Silver standing in front of theater seats. — Roxane Cohen Silver, UC Irvine Distinguished Professor of psychological science, medicine and public health, was elected this spring to the elite American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Steve Zylius/UC Irvine

A literal gut check

Katrine Whiteson studies how intestinal microbiomes affect human health

Katrine Whiteson — Katrine Whiteson, a Chancellor’s Fellow and associate professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at UC Irvine. Steve Zylius/UC Irvine

Navigating ocean waters

Sunny Jiang strives to understand the balance between human activities and coastal ecosystems

Sunny Jiang, UC Irvine professor of both civil and environmental engineering and ecology and evolutionary biology sitting in front of a fountain holding a clear water bottle. — Sunny Jiang, UC Irvine professor of both civil and environmental engineering and ecology and evolutionary biology. Anne Lemnitzer/UC Irvine

Bringing ancient Egypt to life

Luiza Osorio G. Silva uses pop culture to demystify pharaohs, pyramids and more

Luiza Osorio G. Silva, a UC Irvine assistant professor of art history holding a replica coffin and a homemade mummy she has owned since childhood. — Luiza Osorio G. Silva, UC Irvine assistant professor of art history. Steve Zylius/UC Irvine