POCATELLO – Idaho State University psychology professor Xiaomeng (Mona) Xu was honored with a Women in Life Sciences Award in 2014 and received a Suffrage Science Heirloom.

She will now pass on the award to Uraina Clark, assistant professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. The award ceremony will take place on International Women’s Day set March 8 in London at the Royal Academy.

“I am incredibly pleased to be passing on my Suffrage Science Heirloom,” Xu said.

The Suffrage Science Project was launched in 2011 by the United Kingdom’s Medical Research Council, Clinical Sciences Centre to commemorate 100 years of women pioneers in science. Eleven jewelry heirlooms were designed by students at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design and given to 11 prominent women in the life sciences.

Every few years, previous award recipients nominate scientists they would like to pass on their heirloom to. Xu received her heirloom from Bianca Acevedo research fellow, at UCLA, psychology department. The award recognized Xu’s contributions to the life sciences through her work in social, health and neuro psychology. Now she wants Clark to have it.

“Clark embodies everything the Suffrage Science program stands for and is the epitome of a great scientist. I have no doubts that she will become a leader in her field and continue to be a role model and inspiration for future women in the sciences.”

Clark studies stress, HIV and neuro- psychiatric and cognitive disorders utilizing varied methodology including structural and functional neuroimaging techniques.

“In addition to conducting important and high-quality research, Clark has an amazing ability to understand and eloquently articulate both the myriads of details that go into research as well as the bigger picture, with a clear vision of how data ties to real world applications and how fields will progress,” Xu said.

For more information contact Xu at xuxiao@isu.edu.