Melinda A. Engevik, PhD, to Receive 2026 Marilyn G. Farquhar Early Career Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Advancement of Women in Experimental Pathology
The 2026 recipient of the Marilyn G. Farquhar Early Career Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Advancement of Women in Experimental Pathology is Dr. Melinda A. Engevik, Assistant Professor in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC).
The Marilyn G. Farquhar Early Career Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Advancement of Women in Experimental Pathology recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in the advancement of women experimental pathologists during the early phases of career (assistant/associate professor or equivalent), including achievements related to training and mentoring women in experimental pathology, leadership within the field of experimental pathology, service to the community in the promotion of science, innovation in the recruitment and retention of women in experimental pathology, and contributions to the Society. This award is named for Dr. Marilyn G. Farquhar who achieved much in her long career as an educator, researcher, and mentor. Among her many achievements, Dr. Farquhar trained numerous women scientists, many of whom went on to exceptional research careers themselves.
Dr. Engevik graduated from the Biola University (La Miranda, CA) with a BS in biology in 2004, and then completed an MS in biological sciences at the California State University at Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) in 2008. Dr. Engevik subsequently graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a PhD in molecular and cellular physiology in 2014. After several years of postdoctoral training (2014-2018) in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at the Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX), Dr. Engevik was appointed to the position of Instructor in the same department/institution (2018-2020). In 2020, Dr. Engevik moved to the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC) as a tenure-track Assistant Professor.
In her short career to-date, Dr. Engevik has published 74 original papers, book chapters, and reviews. Of her 53 original published papers, Dr. Engevik is first author on 17, and corresponding author on 11 of the most recent papers (going back to 2020). Additional evidence of research productivity can be seen in Dr. Engevik’s list of 69 published abstracts (plus 44 abstracts presented at various local, national, and international meetings). Dr. Engevik’s research is focused on microbiota and the crosstalk occurring between bacteria and the gastrointestinal epithelium (with a specific emphasis on microbe-mucus interactions). Dr. Engevik’s strong publication record is enhanced when you consider the journals in which she is publishing her work – Science, Scientific Reports, Gastroenterology, BMC Microbiology, Gut Microbes, The American Journal of Pathology, Physiological Reports, and others. Dr. Engevik’s H-index is 27 and her publications have been cited 1958 times—which is exceptionally strong for an early-stage investigator. Dr. Engevik’s research is currently supported by a R35 grant from the NIGMS (2024-2029), and she is co-investigator on an R01 grant from the NHLBI/NIH. She also has two institutional research awards provided by the Medical University of South Carolina.
In her letter of recommendation, Dr. Asma Nusrat (F. Peyton Rous Professor & Director of Experimental Pathology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan) comments on Dr. Engevik’s research: “[Dr. Engevik’s] work exemplifies the interdisciplinary and innovative spirit that ASIP seeks to celebrate. Her pioneering research on microbe-mucus interactions and the role of intestinal mucins in gut health has made significant strides in uncovering how microbes communicate with us and how our epithelial cells respond. Mindy’s lab has also identified some unique ways bacteria benefit our intestines and is actively trying to harness this information to generate new therapeutic treatments.”
Dr. Engevik has received numerous awards to this point in her career. Her CV lists 73 awards of various sorts. She has received the Dani and Erik Zander Junior Faculty Scholar Award (2021), the George K. Michalopoulos Junior Faculty Scholar Award (2020), and the Cotran Early Career Investigator Award in 2023 from the ASIP. In 2024, she received the American Physiological Society Gastrointestinal & Liver Early Career Investigator Award. In 2022, Dr. Engevik received the Early Career Investigator Award from The Histochemical Society, and the Early Career Faculty Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She is the recipient of the 2021 Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Young Investigator Award, the 2017, 2018, and 2019 American Gastroenterological Association Early Career Investigator Awards, the 2018 American Physiological Society Professional Opportunity Award, as well as numerous travel awards from various groups (including FASEB). Dr. Engevik has also received awards from her institutions when she was in graduate school and during her postdoctoral training years. Dr. Engevik does really fantastic immunofluorescence microscopy associated with her research, and her images have been recognized with awards and journal covers.
In his letter of recommendation, Dr. Satdarshan P.S. Monga (SVC Chair in Pathobiology and Therapeutics, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine) recognizes Dr. Engevik’s mentorship: “Beyond her research contributions, [Dr. Engevik] has been highly committed to advancing women in science. She has been engaged in STEM-promoting activities since she was a graduate student, such as FabFem and the STEM Role Model directory, and partnered with minority-focused groups like SANCAS and ABRCMs.” He continues to say, “As a faculty member, she is involved in several local initiatives reaching out to middle and high school girls in the greater Charleston area. She has also participated in career development panels and helped minority students navigate ‘individual development plans’ in yearly virtual meetings. In her own lab, [she] is an exceptional mentor to the trainees. She takes a personalized approach to mentorship, recognizing each trainee's unique strengths and challenges, and tailors her guidance to help them achieve their full potential.”
Dr. Engevik is heavily engaged in several scientific societies and has demonstrated leadership abilities related to her Society committee work. She became a member of the ASIP in 2019. Since that time, Dr. Engevik was elected to serve as a member of the ASIP Nominating Committee and she has served as a research preceptor for the ASIP Summer Research Opportunity in Pathology Program. In addition, Dr. Engevik is founding co-leader of the ASIP Infectious Diseases Scientific Interest Group. Beyond the ASIP, Dr. Engevik is currently a member of the Early Career Representative Engagement Task force for FASEB, Chair of the Trainee Advisory Committee for the American Physiological Society (since 2021), Social Media Editor for the American Gastroenterological Association (since 2020), a Young Delegate for the American Gastroenterological Association (since 2016), and a member of the American Physiological Society Annual Meeting Task Force (since 2020), among others. Dr. Engevik was selected to Chair sessions at the Experimental Biology 2022 meeting by both the ASIP and American Physiological Society.
In his letter of recommendation, Dr. Ronen Sumagin (Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine) says, “In addition to her scientific achievements, [Dr. Engevik] is a tireless advocate for women in science. Through her involvement in ASIP’s Women in Pathology, and various STEM outreach initiatives, she has consistently worked to inspire and support the next generation of scientists. I have interacted with several of her trainees at meetings, including ASIP sessions and other national conferences, and I have consistently been impressed by their professionalism, scientific knowledge, and enthusiasm for research.” He continues, “Her trainees are not only well-versed in the technical aspects of their work, but also demonstrate a deep understanding of the broader scientific questions they aim to address. This reflects [Dr. Engevik’s] exceptional mentorship and her ability to inspire and guide her students toward excellence.”
Dr. Engevik will receive the 2026 ASIP Marilyn G. Farquhar Early Career Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Advancement of Women in Experimental Pathology during Pathobiology 2026.