SURA Announces Sophia Economou and John Scully as 2026 Distinguished Scientist Award Recipients
Washington, D.C. – The Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) has selected two researchers for the 2026 SURA Distinguished Scientist Award: Dr. Sophia Economou, T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Chair in Physics at Virginia Tech, and Dr. John Scully, Charles Henderson Chaired Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia.
As SURA’s highest honor, first presented twenty years ago, the Distinguished Scientist Award recognizes research scientists who embody SURA’s mission and values of collaboration and scientific excellence. The awardees were chosen from nominees across SURA member universities for their pioneering research and sustained commitment to collaboration.
At Virginia Tech, Economou serves as the founding director of the Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering, an interdisciplinary team of experts focused on applying quantum physics to new technologies. Beyond the university, she is involved in large-scale collaborations such as the federally funded National Quantum Information Science Research Centers and the Virginia-based Commonwealth Cyber Initiative.
Economou’s work has been cited more than 11,500 times and she has received funding from several federal research sponsors, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Army Research Office (ARO).
In recognition of her contributions to quantum computing research and quantum education, she was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and recently led the APS Division of Quantum Information Science as Chair.
To catalyze the next generation of quantum scientists, Economou established a minor in Quantum Information Science and Engineering at Virginia Tech and organizes a summer school for high school students on quantum science as part of the DOE-led Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage. She currently advises twenty doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, and alumni from her lab lead quantum advancement in industry roles at IBM and startup companies, in academic positions, and at DOE national labs.
“What I love about quantum information science is that it connects the very fundamental physics of how the universe works to the leading edge of technology,” Economou shared. “As recognition and support for quantum grows, it’s exciting to attract some of the smartest young people and shape the future of the field. I am privileged to be mentoring some brilliant young people and making new discoveries together.”
“Dr. Economou embodies everything this award celebrates,” said Dr. Daniel Sui, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation and Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Virginia Tech. “Through her scientific leadership, dedicated mentorship, and bold vision, she is shaping the future of quantum technologies while inspiring and developing the next generation of talent here at Virginia Tech.”
Scully, a globally recognized expert in corrosion, conducts research on materials degradation in harsh environments. His research has wide-ranging applications, including implications for viral transmission, legacy lead pipe corrosion, and damage in aircraft and marine vehicles. Recently, he has focused on corrosion of engineered reactor materials in Generation IV nuclear reactors, publishing findings in Materials Degradation, a Nature Portfolio journal.
Widely known for his leadership in corrosion science, Scully is a member of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and a fellow in several societies including the Electrochemical Society and ASM International.
At the University of Virginia, Scully serves as co-director of the Center for Electrochemical Science & Engineering. His research has been cited over 30,000 times and is funded through a broad range of sources, including the Office of Naval Research (ONR), NASA, DARPA, DOE’s Basic Energy Sciences program, and private industries such as Axalta.
Scully has contributed to major research efforts, including at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Naval Research and Development Center. Additionally, he has played a key role on several National Academy of Engineering study groups, most recently regarding the root cause of failure and collapse of the Arecibo Telescope. His research has transformed understanding of corrosion and materials degradation, improving the safety and reliability of infrastructure, transportation, and defense systems.
Throughout his tenure, Scully has collaborated widely and mentored many early-career trainees, including nearly fifty doctoral students in materials science and engineering, fostering a global network of researchers. “Materials science is like a team sport these days,” Scully reflected. “And that’s what is so much fun — being part of a big team with every level of expertise over many broad areas.”
“UVA is proud to see Dr. Scully receive this well-deserved recognition for his contributions to materials science,” said Dr. Fred Epstein, Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Virginia. “John’s work exemplifies the kind of innovative, collaborative research that improves lives and strengthens society.”
SURA President and CEO Dr. Sean Hearne celebrated the recipients, stating, “As leaders in their fields, Drs. Economou and Scully exemplify the caliber of scholarship and innovation that defines the SURA network.”
The award recipients will be honored at the SURA Annual Members Meeting this September, where they will be recognized for their outstanding scientific advancements and contributions to the future of research.
Together, the awardees’ achievements reflect SURA’s commitment to advancing discovery, fostering collaboration, and developing the next generation of scientific talent while strengthening the SURA consortium and the nation’s research enterprise.
Media Contact:
Anna Rader Groves
SURA Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Communications
Email: arader@sura.org
SURA is a consortium of fifty-seven member universities that fosters collaborations which enhance members’ capabilities of undertaking significant, transformative scientific research projects that no single institution can handle independently.