HERSHEY, Pa. — Penn State’s Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs has awarded Dajiang Liu, professor of public health sciences and biochemistry and molecular biology, the title of distinguished professor.

Liu joins 13 other Penn State faculty who were awarded with this title for 2024. The honor recognizes Liu’s outstanding contributions to the University.

Liu was awarded tenure in 2020 for his pioneering work in statistical genomics, artificial intelligence and bioinformatics. He has contributed innovative work in the development of methods for rare variant genomic associations, among other contributions. His research has appeared in top journals, including JAMA, Science and Nature. Liu also has an impressive record of consistent extramural funding since 2015 and currently holds four active National Institutes of Health grants.

Liu currently directs dissertation research for 13 doctoral students. His former students have won numerous prestigious awards and hold faculty positions across the country. In addition, he created three new courses for the graduate school and co-directs the Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program. He has received numerous teaching awards including the highly competitive 2021 College of Medicine Excellence in Career Mentoring Award.

Liu currently serves as the vice chair for research in the Department of Public Health Sciences, director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Artificial Intelligence, and leader of artificial intelligence and biomedical informatics goals for the College of Medicine’s current strategic plan. He has also served on the Faculty Senate since 2018.