Jane Alcorn
Distinguished Researcher Award - Fall 2007
The Fall 2007 Distinguished Researcher Award recognizes the contributions to scholarship of a faculty member who has received a PhD in the last 10 years. Jane Alcorn, associate professor of pharmacy in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, is the recipient of this award.
Professor Alcorn is a gifted researcher and teacher in the field of pharmacokinetics which explores how medications and other bioactive materials work in the body. With both a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences (University of Kentucky, 2002) and a Doctor of veterinary medicine (U of S, 1994), her multi-disciplinary education has led her to ask diverse scientific questions—from investigating the nutraceutical advantages of natural products to determining what constitutes safe drug use for lactating mothers.
Her groundbreaking work in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada exploring health benefits of flaxseed in lowering blood cholesterol offers evidence of the safety and effectiveness of certain natural remedies.
Serving on a number of academic committees, Prof. Alcorn has been an active member of the university community since she joined the College in 2001. Having co-authored 21 papers and written more than 20 abstracts, she has a publishing and research funding record that is impressive for someone so early in her career.
She reaches out to the community with her research. On several occasions, she has been invited to speak to community groups on issues of medication use during breastfeeding. Currently, she is taking steps towards establishing an infant wellness centre to support research and education which promotes health and wellness in infants.
Prof. Alcorn is actively involved in cultivating the next generation of innovative researchers. She has not only supervised six graduate students, but has also served on advisory committees for an additional 13, often encouraging students to present at scientific meetings and publish their work. She teaches undergraduates and supervises summer students in her lab so pharmacy undergraduates have the opportunity to work in a professional research lab.
She has taken her passion for science beyond the university, judging regional and national high school science fairs. She is a passionate supporter of the High School Academic Placement Program which places promising high school students in university research labs.
She has been called a “true explorer” and her questing mind leaves colleagues in no doubt that she will continue to make great strides in advancing knowledge in her field, one which builds on U of S research strength in animal and human health.
