Prof. Ritz Wins Prestigious Swanson Award

Computational biologist is the third Reed winner in the past four years.

Associate Professor of Biology Anna Ritz was recognized with the prestigious Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. The award honors junior faculty members who demonstrate exceptional potential to establish exemplary, productive, and sustainable research programs.

Prof. Ritz received the award at the annual Murdock College Science Research Program Conference, which was co-hosted by Reed College in early November. She was recognised as being regarded by her peers as an extraordinary teacher, a nationally known researcher and mentor, and a thoughtful and successful program builder with leadership potential for the college. President Audrey Bilger lauded Prof. Ritz for bringing computational biology to Reed and for the excitement she creates with students around her research.

The Swanson prize is given annually to junior faculty members. Prof. Ritz is the third Reed professor to win the award in the past four years. Prof. Sarah Schaack [biology] won the award in 2016, the year the prize was established, and Prof. Alison Crocker [physics] won the award 2019.

Ritz has a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College, and a master’s degree and doctorate from Brown University. Before joining Reed in 2015, she was a postdoctoral associate in the department of computer science at Virginia Tech.

Tags: Academics, Awards & Achievements, Professors, Research