By Daniella Goddard

Three UCSB researchers claimed four American Society of Parasitologists (ASP) awards for their contributions to research and outstanding leadership.

Armand Kuris, professor of zoology in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, was awarded the 2009 Eminent Parasitologist Lectureship, presented yearly to a researcher who is internationally recognized for his substantial contribution to the field over time. He also received the 2010 Clark P. Read Mentorship Award, granted to individuals who exhibit exceptional leadership in the training of young scientists and have had an extraordinary influence on research and graduate education at their institution.

Kevin Lafferty, a researcher at UCSB for the U.S. Geological Survey, was awarded the 2009 Henry Baldwin Ward Medal for his distinguished leadership in his mid-career investigations of parasite ecology and evolution.

Ryan Hechinger, research biologist at the Marine Science Institute, received the 2009 Ashton Cuckler New Investigator Award for his excellence in research immediately following the completion of his doctorate studies.

“We garnered all the major societal awards,” Kuris said. “This pretty much shows that UCSB may well be the premier place for parasitological research in the nation.”

John Janovy, secretary and treasurer of the ASP, noted that no single research group has ever received even three of these honors in the same application round. He added that Kuris is one of two candidates nominated for ASP president.

Lafferty and Hechinger, who received their doctorate degrees in ecology at UCSB, join Kuris as principal investigators for the ecological parasitology lab in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology and the Marine Science Institute.