Dr. Yu and Dr. Winter Awarded 2026 Award for Excellence in Research
The 2026 Award for Excellence in Research goes to two faculty members: Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures Dr. Qiaona Yu and newly tenured Associate Professor of Physics Dr. Stephen Winter.
Dr. Qiaona Yu
Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures
Since joining Wake Forest as a faculty member in 2016, Dr. Yu has established herself as a leading scholar of Chinese Linguistics, whose groundbreaking research and influential publications are actively reshaping the field. As much as she is an exceptional scholar, Dr. Yu is equally dedicated to bringing her research into the classroom, bridging the gap between rigorous scholarship and student learning.
Her research investigates language proficiency and development, with particular focus on interdisciplinary approaches that connect language learning with business, well-being, literature, and culture. Her work highlights the immeasurable value of foreign language education not just for its intellectual merit but also for its role in cultivating students’ curiosity, resilience, and cultural understanding.
Dr. Yu’s commitment to innovative research is evident in her extensive publication record, which includes one monograph, eight peer-reviewed journal articles, six peer-reviewed book chapters, and 36 conference presentations and invited talks. She has also been elected Vice President of the Chinese Language Teachers Association, USA, the largest professional organization in the country dedicated to the study of Chinese language, culture, and pedagogy. On campus, she recently spearheaded the department’s proposal for the Certificate in Chinese/Japanese for the Global Workplace, which is successfully graduating its first class this year.
Dr. Stephen Winter
Associate Professor of Physics
The 2026 Faculty Excellence in Research Award is also awarded to Assistant Professor of Physics Dr.Stephen Winter. Since joining the Department of Physics in 2020, Dr. Winter has quickly distinguished himself as an outstanding scholar and educator.
As a theoretical physicist, Dr. Winter uses Quantum Mechanics and computational tools to model and predict the properties of materials. He has an impressive international reputation and has published more than 80 papers; 31 of which have been published since beginning at Wake Forest in 2020. He is regularly invited to international conferences and schools, and he has been described as “widely recognized as one of the most promising young scientists of his generation in computational theoretical condensed matter physics” by an external reviewer.
Recently, Dr. Winter was awarded a prestigious 5-year National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER grant. The project supports the development and distribution of computer codes, providing experimentalists and theorists with easy access to the theoretical methods employed by the Winter group.
Dr. Winter’s ability to translate cutting-edge theoretical research into accessible tools for the broader scientific community — and into meaningful learning experiences for his students — makes him a truly deserving recipient of the Excellence in Research Award.
