Awards | Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment | Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

iSEE Announces First Levenick Undergraduate Research Scholars

Five talented University of Illinois students from varied disciplines across campus have been selected as the inaugural Levenick Undergraduate Research Scholars at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), giving them valuable hands-on research opportunities in environmental sustainability.

The Levenick Undergraduate Research Scholars will work with a faculty mentor to evaluate a sustainability challenge on campus, analyze data related to the issue, and make recommendations about how to address it. Funded by a generous gift from donors Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick, the program offers independent study credit and experiential learning for students, a small financial incentive for mentors, and fresh ideas to improve sustainability on campus.

The students submitted research proposals to advance goals outlined in the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), using data they collect or already gathered by the campus. Their projects will explore ways to expand recycling, improve energy efficiency, reuse waste for sustainable fuel or renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Enrolled in five different colleges across campus, the young scholars bring diverse skills and perspectives to this effort:

Dylan Wombacher, a sophomore in Plant Biotechnology (College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences): A project to quantify single-use plastic waste in labs across campus and identify where a recycling program would have the most impact. Wombacher will be mentored by Isaac Klimasmith, lecturer in statistics and quantitative plant sciences and incoming Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Crop Sciences.
Kristina Muharremaj, a junior in Earth, Society, & Environmental Sustainability (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences): A project examining how the spacing of public lighting affects students’ perceptions of pedestrian safety after dark, and what changes could improve energy efficiency without compromising pedestrian comfort. Muharremaj will be mentored by Nooreen Meghani, Teaching Assistant Professor in the School of Earth, Society, and Environment.
John Han, a junior in Finance and Data Science (Gies College of Business): A project investigating the energy consumption impact of retrocommissioning – operational changes to improve a building’s energy efficiency – to assess whether it delivers meaningful savings and to help prioritize future investments. Han will be mentored by Eric Green, Senior Academic Program Instructor/Adviser at iSEE.
Vivek Limaye, a sophomore in Aerospace Engineering (Grainger College of Engineering): A project to evaluate whether food scraps, agricultural residues, and other campus organic waste can serve as a viable source of sustainable aviation fuel production, by analyzing feedstock availability and bioprocessing performance. He will be mentored by Luis Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Michelle Martignon, a sophomore in Sustainable Design (College of Fine and Applied Arts): A project developing a framework for a full feasibility study for an anaerobic digester at the U. of I. Dairy Farm, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock manure and advance renewable energy and resource recovery. Martignon will be mentored by Karin Hodgin Jones, Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of the Sustainable Design Program.

Overall, the program is designed to empower students with the critical analytical skills needed to be global stewards of environmental sustainability and engage them in the responsibilities of making our campus and the world more sustainable.

About Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick

Stuart Levenick retired as group president from Caterpillar Inc., where he held a variety of executive roles, and he currently holds board positions with several international corporations. He also serves as a member of the board of directors and the development committee chair for the University of Illinois Foundation, and is a member of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Campaign Planning Committee. Stuart Levenick graduated from the College of ACES with a bachelor’s degree in forestry and furthered his education as a Sloan Fellow, earning a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was awarded the University of Illinois Varsity “I” Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and the College of ACES Career Achievement Award in 2018.

Nancy Levenick graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Education, and taught high school English in Toronto before the couple embarked on an eight-move, global career, including assignments in Canada, Singapore, Russia, and Japan, returning to Peoria in 2004. Since then, Nancy Levenick has been an active member of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Advocacy Board and a board member of WTVP and the Peoria Ballet. Both Stuart and Nancy have been active members of the Heart of Illinois United Way.

iSEE Director Madhu Khanna Elected to AAAS

Madhu Khanna, Alvin H. Baum Family Chair and Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), has been named a 2025 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the highest honors awarded to U.S. scientists.

Khanna, an environmental economist, is among three University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors recognized this year by AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council for exceptional achievements across disciplines – from research, teaching, and technology to administration and communicating science to the public.

“I’m incredibly honored to be selected as an AAAS Fellow,” Khanna said. “It’s gratifying to be recognized by your peers and to see environmental social science research elevated through this prestigious award.”

The new AAAS Fellows will be honored at a forum in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 2026.

Khanna, who first joined the U. of I. Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics in 1995, is the ACES Distinguished Professor in Environmental Economics in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES).

In her ground-breaking research, Khanna explores what motivates agricultural producers to participate in conservation programs or adopt innovative approaches to meet demands for food and fuel, such as precision farming and biofuels. Her work informs stakeholders and policy makers about the cost-effectiveness of various policies to improve environmental quality and their implications for farm profitability, land use, and food and fuel production. Her pioneering analysis of voluntary approaches to environmental protection demonstrated that firms can be effectively motivated to reduce their pollution voluntarily because it may preempt future regulation, while also improving a firm’s reputation with investors and consumers.

Khanna also leads her field in developing models to understand the impact of biofuels and renewable energy policies on food and fuel prices, as well as land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water quality. Her interdisciplinary research provides insights from the farm level to the economy as a whole.

Khanna was named iSEE Director in July 2022 but has been a leader at the Institute since its inception in December 2013, first as Associate Director for Education & Outreach, then as Associate Director for Research, and as Interim Director in 2020. The institute addresses the world’s pressing sustainability, energy, and environmental needs by bringing together faculty, students, and staff from across campus to focus on research solutions, campus sustainability, and academics and engagement — all through an interdisciplinary lens.

Under Khanna’s leadership, iSEE has expanded its multimillion-dollar research portfolio with major projects focusing on agrivoltaics, circular bioeconomy systems, sustainable transportation, and smart and sustainable agriculture – including the I-FARM “Farm of the Future,” the Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, and the Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy. She is Director of iSEE’s SCAPES Agrivoltaics Project, which integrates solar arrays with crops and recently opened a new custom research installation at the Illinois Energy Farm.

The institute also successfully launched an Environmental Leadership Program, which is training the next generation of sustainability leaders, and a new EcoReps sustainability ambassadors program. Additionally, iSEE has continued to lead the development of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), support expansion of on-campus solar and geothermal energy projects, and partner with other academic units on innovative learning opportunities for students.

At Illinois, Khanna holds appointments with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences; the Center for Digital Agriculture at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications; the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology; and the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. She is also a Co-PI at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), a Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Center, and a University of Illinois Scholar. She was President of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and is a Fellow of AAEA and the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.

Lei Zhao Awarded AGU James B. Macelwane Medal

Researcher Lei Zhao, an affiliate of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), has been awarded the AGU James B. Macelwane Medal in recognition of his work on climate change and urbanization.

Named for former AGU president James B. Macelwane, the award is given annually to three to five early career scientists for their significant contributions to Earth and Space Science. As an AGU Honoree, Zhao also receives automatic distinction as an AGU Fellow.

Zhao is an Assistant Pofessor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, where his research centers on the confluence of global climate change and urbanization, two of the most dominant forces shaping the Earth system and grand challenges of our generation. Together with his research group, he investigates how cities interact with climate system and develops the next-generation, urban-resolving Earth system models and digital twins. His work combines theory, Earth system modeling, remote sensing, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and advanced computing.

AGU, the world’s largest Earth and space science association, celebrates individuals and teams through its annual Honors and Recognition program for their accomplishments in research, education, science communication, and outreach. These honorees have transformed our understanding of the world, impacted our everyday lives, improved our communities and contributed to solutions for a sustainable future.

Zhao earned his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2015 and was a postdoctoral scholar at Princeton University before joining the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2018. In addition to his primary appointment with civil and environmental engineering, he is affiliated with iSEE, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, and the Department of Climate, Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences. The AGU previously honored Zhao with its Global Environmental Change Early Career Award in 2023.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive the James B. Macelwane Medal, and to be included among such distinguished past recipients,” Zhao said. “This honor reflects not only my own efforts but also the incredible support of my students, collaborators, colleagues, and mentors. This recognition would not have been possible without their invaluable contributions, guidance, and inspiration.”

Zhao joins a distinguished group of scientists, leaders and communicators recognized by AGU for advancing science. Each honoree reflects AGU’s vision for a thriving, sustainable and equitable future supported by scientific discovery, innovation and action.

“To me, this honor underscores the importance of advancing our understanding of how cities and climate interact, and the role that science can play in building a sustainable Earth’s future,” Zhao said. “I am grateful to AGU for giving us this recognition, and I hope to continue contributing to the scientific community with the same spirit of excellence and service that this award represents.”

Honorees will be recognized at AGU25, which will convene in New Orleans, Louisiana on 15-19 December 2025. Reflecting the theme ‘Where Science Connects Us’ at AGU25, the Honors Reception will recognize groundbreaking achievements that illustrate science’s continual advancement, inspiring the AGU community with their stories and successes.