The American Psychological Association recently presented an award to Simona Ghetti for distinguished scientific early career contributions to psychology.

In presenting the award, the association noted that Ghetti’s work has “provided new insight into the psychological and neurological mechanisms underlying typical and atypical memory development.”

Ghetti is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and at the Center for Mind and Brain

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Charles DeCarli, a neurology professor and director of the university’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center, is headed to Ontario, Canada, to receive the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine.

The Robarts Research Institute of the University of Western Ontario, Canada, gives the award, which is named after the founding chair of the institute’s board. The award, which includes a $10,000 prize, is due to be presented Nov. 3.

DeCarli’s groundbreaking neuroimaging investigations are at the forefront of advancing understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of the healthy aging brain and changes in the brain associated with vascular and Alzheimer’s dementias.

“Dr. DeCarli is being recognized for his international leadership in the imaging of white-matter disease as well as his careful demonstrations of the genetic and vascular contributions to Alzheimer's disease, also using advanced imaging techniques he developed,” said Ravi Menon, associate director of the Robarts Research Institute and chair of the Taylor prize selection committee. "With common treatments for hypertension and other vascular diseases available, his findings have enormous implications for the prevention of many cases of dementia.”

Claire Pomeroy, vice chancellor for Human Health Sciences and dan of the School of Medicine, said of DeCarli: “His leadership and groundbreaking research inquiries and insights have significantly advanced hope for people around the globe with Alzheimer’s disease.”

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StageSceneLA named John Iacovelli, a professor of theatre and dance, as set designer of the year for 2009-10, for his work on Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Cave Quest, Dinner With Friends, Hello, Dolly!, Peter Pan and Steel Magnolias.

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The School of Law announced honors for three professors:

• Diane Marie Amann is a newly elected member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. The fellows are attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession. The fellowship is an honorary organization that supports the work of the bar foundation. Fellows are elected by jurisdiction, with membership limited to one-third of 1 percent of the lawyers who are licensed to practice within each jurisdiction.

Amann joins one of her law school colleagues, Professor Courtney G. Joslin, in the fellows organization.

• Vikram Amar, associate dean, has been elected to the American Law Institute, joining 14 other faculty members from the UC Davis School of Law. Widely considered the nation's most important organization of legal scholars, the institute oversees law reform projects that often form the basis of laws enacted across the country and become standards cited in judges' legal opinions, lawyers' briefs, and scholarly articles.

• Keith Aoki has been selected as the fall 2011 Morse Chair Professor at the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon School of Law. Aoki joins a list of others who have held the chair over its 26-year history — all of them distinguished scholars and activists who embodied the qualities and traditions associated with Wayne Morse (1900-74), an Oregon attorney and U.S. senator known for his highly principled approach to politics and his opposition to the Vietnam War.

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Lydia Pleotis Howell, professor and chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the School of Medicine, has been appointed chair of the Hematology and Pathology Devices Panel of the Food and Drug Administration's Medical Devices Advisory Committee.

Howell is an anatomic and clinical pathologist well known for her work to improve protocols for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer. A pioneer in new methods for cervical cancer screening, Howell led clinical testing of liquid-based Pap tests and computer-assisted screening, leading to FDA approval and national implementation of these technologies, which now set the standard of care.

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Jonathan Sykes, professor of otolaryngology in the School of Medicine, has been appointed president of the 2,700-member American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Sykes directs facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and practices with Roseville Facial Plastic Surgery.

He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

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Entomology professor Frank Zalom is the recipient of the 2010 Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management. Syngenta Crop Protection sponsors the award, given by the 6,000-member Entomological Society of America.

Zalom has developed numerous IPM strategies and tactics, and during the past decade his lab has responded with research projects linked to six important invasions: the glassy-winged sharpshooter, olive fruit fly, a new biotype of greenhouse whitefly, invasive saltcedar, light brown apple moth and the spotted wing Drosophila.

His latest research focuses primarily on pest management strategies for California specialty crops, including almonds, olives, prunes, peaches, grapes, strawberries, cane berries and tomatoes, as well as international IPM programs.

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Dateline welcomes news of faculty and staff awards, for publication in Laurels. Send information to dateline@ucdavis.edu.