The Indiana University School of Medicine has named the four recipients of the 2026 Showalter Scholars Award.
Each scholar will receive the title of “IU School of Medicine Showalter Scholar” for three years following their recognition. The awards, funded by the Ralph G. and Grace M. Showalter Trust and IU School of Medicine, help to support promising research. Each scholar will be awarded $50,000 per year to support and advance the work of mid-career scientists in their endeavors.
The 2026 Showalter Scholars are:
Dustin B. Hammers: Advancing care for late-life cognitive disorders
A physician-scientist at IU School of Medicine since 2021, Dustin Hammers, PhD, is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and associate professor in the Department of Neurology. He serves as the lead neuropsychologist and a central figure in the clinical core-related analyses of the Longitudinal Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS) grants, which are led by IU School of Medicine.
Hammers recently received an R01 award from the National Institute on Aging for his “examination of practice effects to better understand the heterogeneity of cognitive trajectories and disease course in participants with Subjective Cognitive Decline.”
“Dr. Hammers has firmly positioned himself as an international expert in digital cognitive assessments and a leading decision-maker in their increasing clinical use,” said Laurie Gutmann, MD, chair and professor in the Department of Neurology.
While at IU School of Medicine, Hammers has published more than 70 manuscripts, with over 100 publications during his career.
As a key contributor to the LEADS projects, Hammers serves as co-leader of the Clinical Core, alongside Liana Apostolova, MD, MS. He also has recently been appointed to serve as co-leader of the Clinical Core for the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
In addition to his role as a researcher, Hammers treats patients and is committed to mentoring graduate students and medical students.
Dustin is a well-rounded professional who gives back to the profession and pays forward to the next generation,” said Kevin Duff, PhD, professor of neurology at Oregon Health and Science University.
Amelia K. Linnemann: Understanding β-cells in Type 1 diabetes
Amelia Linnemann, PhD, currently serves as an adjunct associate professor, with tenure, in the Department of Pediatrics. She joined IU School of Medicine in 2016 and also serves as adjunct associate professor of anatomy, cell biology and physiology.
Since joining the faculty, Linnemann has published her research in high-impact journals and several of her studies have received special recognition, including featured cover articles. Most notably, her recent work on understanding the early events associated with Type 1 diabetes pathogenesis has received high praise in the media.
“Dr Linnemann’s research is characterized by its ingenuity, scientific rigor and potential for tremendous future clinical impact in diabetes,” said Bruce Verchere, PhD, professor in the department of surgery, pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of British Columbia.
Outside of her research, Linnemann has been recognized for her dedication and mentorship of the next generation of scientists and physicians. In addition to mentorship of numerous pre-and postdoctoral trainees in her lab, she also runs two programs for Indiana high school students who
are interested in careers in science and medicine, and another program for medical students who aim to gain research experience. Many of her former trainees have gone on to successful careers across the state, contributing to the growth of the local scientific and medical infrastructure.
“Amelia’s work is redefining our understanding of β-cell stress biology in Type 1 diabetes and opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention,” wrote Reuben Kapur, PhD, professor of biochemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology at IU School of Medicine.
Tracey Wilkinson: Championing equitable access to reproductive health care
Tracey Wilkinson, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of pediatrics and obstetrics & gynecology at IU School of Medicine. Her research focuses on expanding access to reproductive health care and dismantling the structural barriers that prevent individuals from receiving it.
“From the beginning of her career, Tracey has demonstrated a clear vision for her research and career trajectory. Over the years, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, scholarly productivity and unwavering dedication to improving reproductive health access, particularly for adolescents and young adults,” said D. Wade Clapp, MD, professor of pediatrics and former chair of the Department of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine.
Wilkinson leads PATH4YOU, Indiana’s only statewide, free, patient-centered pregnancy planning program, which has served more than 4,000 patients across 81 of Indiana’s 92 countries since 2021. The program has been recognized for its equity-centered model, with peer-reviewed research documenting no racial disparities in patient-reported quality of care.
Wilkinson has authored more than 48 peer-reviewed publications, holds current National Institutes of Health funding, and is passionate about connecting research to policy.
“Dr. Wilkinson is exactly the type of innovative, impactful investigator that programs like the Showalter Scholars Program are designed to support. She has demonstrated the ability to conduct rigorous research, lead collaborative initiatives and translate findings into meaningful improvements in reproductive health care access,” said Laura D. Lindberg, PhD, professor or urban-global public health at Rutgers University of Public Health.
Bo Zhao: Exploring the auditory perception through molecular science
A neuroscience researcher, Zhao is an associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery who focuses on applying molecular tools to help address fundamental questions in the field of auditory perception and hearing loss.
Since joining IU School of Medicine, Zhao’s lab has focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying hearing loss and has characterized the molecular functions of several proteins associated with hearing loss in humans. He has received funding as the principal investigator of three R01s and one R21 from the National Institutes of Health, two international research grants from the United Kingdom and a Showalter early-career award. He has also published 24 papers in international journals, serving as the senior author in 12 of the publications.
Outside of his research, Zhao lectures in three to four graduate-level courses and has mentored several medical students, three postdoctoral researchers and many undergraduate students.
“Dr. Zhao’s commitment to training the next generation of scientists is evident through his engagement with students and trainees at all levels,” said Jonathan Ting, MD, MS, professor and chair of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the IU School of Medicine. “He has significantly enriched the collaborative scientific environment at Indiana University and the greater research community.”
Rick F. Nelson, MD, PhD, professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, also praised Zhao’s research in the field.
“Dr. Zhao is a driving force in auditory cell biology with a clear upward trajectory,” Nelson said.
