DANVILLE, KY—Rob Ziemba, assistant professor of biology at Centre College, was named Outstanding College/University Teacher at the Kentucky Academy of Science meeting on Friday, Nov. 11.

"I'm honored by this award," says Ziemba, "but the credit should go to the excellent role models I interact with every day. Centre has been an ideal place for me to learn how to teach."

Dean John Ward was delighted with the award. "Professor Ziemba is a wonderful teacher," he says, "one who gives his students all the attention, respect, challenge and expertise he has to offer. He certainly deserves and has earned this vote of confidence from his peers in the KAS."

Adds Professor of Biology Christine Barton, a past winner of the Outstanding College/University Teacher award: "Rob has not only chosen teaching as his profession, he extends his dedication to this vocation in his community service and his collaborative research endeavors. In his short tenure at Centre, he's earned the respect of both students and colleagues as a tireless, enthusiastic professor with a strong commitment to classroom excellence and community involvement in environmental issues."

"I'm thrilled that Rob won the KAS award," says Steve Asmus, Dowling Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. "He's a great colleague on every level: one who cares about his students and is enthusiastic about his research."

Ziemba is the fifth member of the Centre faculty to win the award. He follows Brent White (2003), Christine Barton (1998), Marshall Wilt (1990), and Ray Hammond (1987).

In a separate honor, Ziemba received a grant for nearly $10,000 from the KAS Special Research Fund to support his research proposal titled "An investigation of species boundaries in the Orconectes juvenilis species complex."

Ziemba joined the Centre faculty in 2001 as a visiting assistant professor of biology. In 2005 he was hired as an assistant professor of biology. He earned his B.A. from Boston University and his Ph.D. from Arizona State University. Prior to his appointment at Centre, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Kentucky in the Center for Ecology, Evolution and Behavior.

Ziemba has research experience in the behavioral ecology of both vertebrates and invertebrates. He is currently engaged in work on the evolution and behavior of crayfish in the genus Orconectes. Ziemba uses a variety of techniques, including DNA sequencing, manipulative behavioral experiments, and simulation modeling to address questions about local crayfish species.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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