Ver Steeg Fellowship

The Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellowship Award supports research and scholarship and is awarded annually to two tenured Northwestern professors whose work enhances the national and international reputation of the University. It carries a $45,000 award designated for research per award recipient.

Clarence Ver Steeg was for many years a faculty member in the Department of History, served as dean of The Graduate School, and was a leader in the Northwestern community.

Congratulations to the 2026 Recipients

Jinjoo Cho

Associate Professor of Violin, Bienen School of Music

Jinjoo Cho is an associate professor of violin in the Bienen School of Music and an accomplished performer and teacher.

Her research focuses on the relationship between timbre and rhythmic inflection in violin technique. By emphasizing the relationship between rhythm, tone production and physical coordination, her approach offers students concrete tools for continued development at the advanced level.

She is the recipient of numerous major international awards, including first prizes at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and the Schoenfeld International String Competition. She has performed and collaborated with prominent orchestras across North America, Europe and Asia. She regularly serves as an official jury member for major international competitions.

Petia Vlahovska

Professor of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, McCormick School of Engineering

Petia Vlahovska is an internationally recognized researcher; her work spans fluid dynamics, soft and active matter and biomembranes. In her fluid dynamics laboratory, she combines deep mathematical insight with innovative experimental investigations. Her research has driven the development of novel, non-invasive experimental methods to characterize fundamental membrane properties such as bending rigidity and the ability to store electrical energy.

Her methods have also revealed membrane viscosity — a long-overlooked factor in membrane deformation — which has yielded new understanding of the structure and function of biological cells.

Vlahovska is the recipient of the NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award.