Zeynep Madak-Erdogan is one of five University of Illinois professors at the Urbana-Champaign campus to be named University Scholar. The program recognizes faculty excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. 

Madak-Erdogan, a professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition, is actively involved in the Cancer Center at Illinois. She served as a health innovation professor at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and is an active member of the Omics Nanotechnologies in Cancer Precision Medicine research theme at Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology.

Her research has revealed cellular adaptations and molecular mechanisms that underlie the detrimental effects of specific lipids, free fatty acids and obesity in the aggressiveness of breast cancers. She published 65 papers, delivered more than 30 invited lectures and received a prestigious publishing award. She served as editor-in-chief for two endocrine-focused journals. Madak-Erdogan has been an investigator on grants totaling approximately $8 million. She was recognized as an Emerging Leader of the National Academy of Medicine and is a Big Ten Alliance Academic Leaders Program Fellow.

Much of her scholarly activity aligns with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. She created a course on health disparities in the U.S. and organized a mini symposium on “Hormone Dependent Cancer Disparities.” She also serves as the inaugural co-lead of an Illinois Minority Serving Institutions Alliance working group, with a goal of producing underrepresented doctoral recipients by providing unique and targeted opportunities to enhance their preparation for a successful career in academia and beyond.

“The University Scholars program celebrates the remarkable achievements of the named individuals,” said Nicholas Jones, the University of Illinois System’s executive vice president and vice president for academic affairs. “Our faculty represent the strong foundation of the world-class academic experience that contributes to the betterment of society and draws students and researchers to the U. of I. System universities from across the globe. The University Scholars are exemplars of that faculty excellence. 

Read more about the program and all five recipients from the Illinois News Bureau.