Mississippi State University Assistant Professor Candace Lukasik has received a highly competitive 2026 Collaborative Research Grant from the American Academy of Religion to examine religious communities through the lens of diaspora—populations dispersed beyond their ancestral homelands while maintaining strong cultural and social ties.

Mississippi State University chemist Colleen Scott has been selected for the Bayh-Dole Coalition’s 2026 American Innovator Award, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors given annually researchers whose federally funded work leads to real-world impact. Past honorees include developers of mRNA vaccine technology, once-a-day HIV treatments and vision-restoring glasses.

“My favorite memories at Mississippi State University all center on time spent with friends and fellow students. I have fond memories of those football games shared with friends! However, one academic moment stands out: achieving a breakthrough during my chemistry research in Professor Grimley’s laboratory,” said Wigley. “Though relatively modest, that discovery unexpectedly earned the respect of my fellow research students and advisor, and more importantly, it profoundly shaped my ambition to pursue a career in chemical research.”