Early Career Investigator Awards

Celebrate Excellence at the
Celebration of Research 2026!

We are thrilled to announce the San José State University Research Foundation 2025 Award Recipients! Join us on April 16 as we honor these visionary investigators alongside an inspiring group of student, faculty, and staff honorees.

Why Join Us?

The Celebration of Research is our premier annual showcase dedicated to the relentless spirit of discovery. Witness the formal recognition of our Early Career Investigator Award (ECIA) and Industry-Sponsored Researcher Award (ISRA) awardees. Come experience the impact of our community’s dedication to excellence and find inspiration in the next wave of transformative research.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 2 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Location: Ballroom of the Diaz Compean Student Union

Limited spots available...Register Today!

2025 Awardees

Please join us in congratulating the 2025 San José State University Research Foundation (SJSURF) Early Career Investigator Award (ECIA) and the Industry-Sponsored Researcher Award (ISRA) recipients.

Drs. Sudha Krishnan (left) and Jessica A. Castillo Vardaro (right)

Sudha Krishnan
Assistant Professor of Special Education
Connie L. Lurie College of Education

Dr. Krishnan is recognized for her outstanding early-career record of externally funded, equity-focused research advancing inclusive education for students with extensive support needs. Her work integrates sociocultural theory and anti-deficit pedagogies to expand learning opportunities, strengthen teacher preparation, and promote self-advocacy. She has secured more than $1.1 million in external funding, including U.S. Department of Education–supported initiatives such as Project Mosaic and SPARTANS Advance, which address critical gaps in teacher workforce diversity and inclusive postsecondary pathways. Through sustained scholarly productivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-engaged programs, Dr. Krishnan is helping to build more just and accessible educational systems while preparing the next generation of educators and leaders.

Jessica A. Castillo Vardaro
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
College of Science

Dr. Castillo Vardaro has established herself as a research leader advancing understanding of how environmental change and human activity shape wildlife populations and ecosystems. Her work integrates molecular genetics with field-based ecological methods to examine species’ responses to climate change and human-wildlife interactions, generating insights that inform conservation strategies, management practices, and more sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Reward and Recognition

The award recipient will receive a commemorative trophy, a cash award of $5,000, and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. The award will be presented at the Celebration of Research on on Thursday, April 16, 2025. A profile of each recipient’s accomplishments will be announced to faculty and staff via email, and featured on the Research Foundation’s website and in the Research Foundation’s Annual Report. This information may also be publicized in university media.

Past ECIA Awardees

Congratulations to all of our previous recipients.