Sutley Named Finalist for Blavatnik Awards
A professor from the University of Kansas School of Engineering has been named a finalist for one of the country’s most significant prizes for early-career researchers.
Elaina J. Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering and KU Engineering associate dean for impact and belonging, is a finalist for the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists — in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category.
Sutley’s research focuses on natural hazards and disasters, community resilience and long-term housing recovery with a focus on helping to modernize building codes across the country. The goal is to make communities more resilient, while helping policymakers and local leaders make informed decisions about the most effective ways to prepare for and recover from these disasters.
“With increased threats posed to structures and society by a changing climate, Dr. Sutley’s research is critical to the future safety and security for people around the globe,” said Mary Rezac, dean of engineering at the University of Kansas School of Engineering. “We are thrilled to see her important work recognized on the national level and honored she’s a finalist for this prestigious award.”
The Blavatnik Awards honor researchers nationwide in three categories: Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences and Engineering. The winners in each category will receive an unrestricted award of $250,000, the world’s largest unrestricted science prize available for early-career scientists. Winners will be announced on Oct. 7 and recognized at a ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in 2007 and independently administered by The New York Academy of Sciences, began by identifying outstanding post-doctoral scientists in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In 2014, the Blavatnik National Awards were created to recognize faculty-rank scientists throughout the United States. In 2017, the Awards were further expanded to honor faculty-rank scientists in the UK and Israel.
About Associate Professor Sutley’s Research
Elaina J. Sutley studies the impact of earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and tornadoes. Her research addresses the question: as population growth and climate changes make these disastrous events more unpredictable and extreme, how can we ensure that people living in hazard-prone areas are kept safe and with stable housing before, during, and after these forces of nature?