Two Eberly faculty honored with 2026 C.I. Noll Award
The Penn State Eberly College of Science has honored Carly Sjogren, associate teaching professor of biology, and Teh-hui Kao, distinguished professor of biology and molecular biology, with the 2026 C.I. Noll Award for Excellence in Teaching.
First awarded in 1972 and named for Clarence I. Noll, dean of the Eberly College of Science from 1965 to 1971, this award is the highest honor for undergraduate teaching in the college. Students, faculty members, and alumni nominate outstanding faculty members who best exemplify the key characteristics of a Penn State educator.
Carly Sjogren
Sjogren serves as the coordinator of the Penn State First-Year Research Initiative where she leads a two-semester lab course sequence, integrating Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences. Within FRI, students are exposed to mentored research via their instructors, faculty, and peer mentors. Each year over 100 students participate in FRI.
Beyond the students participating in FRI, 20 teaching and learning assistants also gain valuable STEM workforce preparation each year. In partnership with Matthew Endres, associate teaching professor of biology, Sjogren received the 2024 Teaching Innovation Award from the Opportunity Grant for Professional Development Program where they conducted instructional research to evaluate the alignment among learning objectives, activities, and assessments.
“Dr. Sjogren is an exceptional educator whose teaching at Penn State is defined by inclusive pedagogy, innovative course-based undergraduate research experiences, and a genuine commitment to fostering students’ confidence, curiosity, and sense of belonging in science,” said Glenna Malcom, associate head of undergraduate education and curricular coordination and teaching professor of biology, in a nomination letter.
Sjogren expanded FRI from serving 40 to 100 students each year through having a diverse team of people, communicating science effectively, and showing the value in learning over knowledge.
One student nominator wrote, “I sincerely appreciate Dr. Sjogren for creating an inclusive, motivating, and welcoming environment.”
Another student wrote, “She actively cultivates a collaborative environment where every student’s ideas are valued. The emphasis on belonging and participation allows students to feel like they are truly part of a scientific community rather than simply completing course requirements.”
Sjogren has also been an active member of the Grove Center for Excellence in Science Education including serving as an Evidence Based Teaching Academy mentor and on the CURE Community of Practice. She has also served on the Eberly College of Science First-Year Task Force and as a member of the biology department’s Diversity and Climate committee.
Prior joining the faculty at Penn State, Sjogren was an education postdoctoral scholar at North Carolina State University and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Sjogren earned her doctoral degree in genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics from the University of California, Riverside after earning her bachelor of arts in biology from the same institution.
Teh-hui Kao
Since 1988, Kao has taught honors general biochemistry, and in that time, he has taught over 800 honors students, including the children of previous general biochemistry students. In teaching this course, Kao’s philosophy is to teach general biochemistry at a challenging level to prepare students for their future in medical school, graduate school, and their professional careers. However, he also believes that to teach the course at such a high level requires him to inspire students to be interested in learning the material, motivate students to work and study hard, and provide them with all the necessary aids to help them learn.
“Dr. Kao’s teaching track record and in particular his instruction of BMB 402H [General Biochemistry] is legendary in my department,” said Santhosh Girirajan, T. Ming Chu Professor of Genomics and head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in a nomination letter.
In addition to his teaching, Kao also served as the director of the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology from 2000 to 2026. Within his lab, he has supervised 22 graduate students and 80 undergraduate students.
“Dr. Kao is one of the best professors I’ve ever had…,” said a student nominator. “He is, in short, the pinnacle of excellence in biochemistry instruction.”
Another student wrote, “I could not imagine scratching the surface of everything Dr. Kao did for us. Everyone to learn science from another person. Dr Kao views this job not as an obligation, but as a privilege… Dr. Kao instilled in me an appreciation for scientific challenges and shaped the way I approach learning. He inspires me to push myself to the limit as a scientist.”
Kao has also been previously recognized for his teaching with various awards. In 2024 and 1998, Kao received the Daniel R. Tershak Memorial Teaching Award from the Eberly College of Science; in 2014, he was a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Penn State chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success; and in 2008, he earned the Excellence in Honors Teaching Award from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College.
Prior to joining Penn State in 1986, Kao earned his doctoral and master’s degrees in chemistry from Yale University. He also earned his bachelor of science in chemistry from National Taiwan University.