Two professors in the Department of Biochemistry will receive major Nebraska honors this fall for outstanding work in scientific research and mentoring.
Nebraska Cures will salute Karin van Dijk as its 2026 Woman in Science during a Sept 24 event in Lincoln. Nebraska Women in STEM will honor Nicole Buan with its 2026 Innovator Award in an Oct. 29 celebration in Omaha.
Van Dijk “has built a scholar-teacher program that bring together laboratory research, biochemistry education, mentoring and authentic research experiences,” Nebraska Cures said in announcing the award. “She believes students learn best when they take ownership of their education, ask questions, solve problems and participate in research.”
Nebraska Women in STEM noted that Buan, to be honored for scientific innovation, is a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors who has been awarded several patents and is co-founder of the Nebraska startup Molecular Trait Evolution.
The Nebraska Cures event honoring van Dijk will be held at Country Club of Lincoln on Sept. 24. Buan will be saluted by Nebraska Women in STEM during an event at the Durham Museum in Omaha on Oct. 29.
Van Dijk’s laboratory research spans plant-pathogen interactions, chromatin regulation, microbiomes and antibiotic resistance. She has taught more than 2,500 students and mentored more than 50 undergraduate researchers, incorporating research experiences as a key part of student learning and engagement.
Her impact has extended through K-12 outreach, curriculum leadership and initiatives such as Nebraska INBRE (IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence), a statewide, National Institutes of Health-funded initiative to expand biomedical research capacity, support faculty and train undergraduate students across Nebraska. She also is active in the National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR program and HHMI Inclusive Excellence 3, which promotes student inclusion, belonging and success in STEM fields.
Van Dijk is a past president of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. Multiple awards and honors have saluted her teaching.
“Taken together,” Nebraska Cures said, “her work has supported students at many different stages and helped create and strengthen pathways for them to engage deeply with science, grow in confidence, and pursue their own goals.”
Buan’s research interests encompass redox biochemistry and synthetic biology of microbes and plants with potential applications for sustainable bioenergy and agriculture.
Buan “is a strong advocate for the next generation of scientists,” Nebraska Women in STEM said, noting that she cofounded the international Archaea Power Hour virtual seminar series to highlight recent advances in archaeal biology and elevate early-career researchers. She serves as a member of the American Society for Microbiology Program Committee and as associate editor for the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
She has interest in science policy and the bioeconomy as a council member of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium and as a fellow with the National Strategic Research Institute, where she advocates for support of microbial sciences, education and use-inspired research to address challenges in energy, environment, agriculture and health.
Nebraska Cures is a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports scientific research and health science education. Nebraska Women in STEM, a collaboration of Bio Nebraska and Nebraska Cures, aims to reduce career barriers and address industry workforce shortages by providing professional development, networking and mentorship opportunities for women across the state.
