‘Vigil’ by acclaimed author George Saunders kicks off the new Campus Reading Program
May 13, 2026
Northwestern University professors Jinjoo Cho and Petia Vlahovska have received the 21st annual Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellowship Award.
The Ver Steeg Fellowship supports the research of a tenured Northwestern faculty member whose work enhances the reputation of Northwestern nationally and internationally and comes with a one-time research grant of $45,000.
“Northwestern’s reputation for excellence in research and teaching is earned through the dedication and innovative work of faculty members such as Professor Vlahovska and Professor Cho,” said Provost Kathleen Hagerty. “I am proud of their accomplishments and grateful for their service.”
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 is a professor of engineering sciences and applied mathematics in the McCormick School of Engineering.
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.
