Eugene Appenteng
Osae, OD.

ORLANDO, Fla.—The American Academy of Optometry Foundation announced Eugene Appenteng Osae, OD, as this year’s recipient for the Joseph T. Barr Early Career Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award. Dr. Osae is a PhD candidate in physiological optics and a teaching assistant at the University of Houston College of Optometry. He was selected by a committee of members of the Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). The award is intended to provide an MS, PhD, vision science, or physiological optics student attending a North American school/college of optometry research seed funding for a project in cornea/ocular surface or contact lenses.

Alan R. Burns, PhD, professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics at the University of Houston College of Optometry, said, “Armed with a PhD and an OD degree, Eugene will be well poised to succeed as a future full-time optometric researcher/educator. He already has outstanding teaching credentials and, upon completion of the PhD, with his newly acquired research skills he should be able to continue in academia, teaching students, training future researchers, and taking the research from bench to clinic, thereby making important and valuable contributions to the vision science academic and clinical community.”

Of the four applicants who applied to the program, Osae presented an impressive resume of experience in clinical research, volunteer service, and lecture presentation, according to the announcement. He will receive a $2,000 education award and a $750 travel fellowship to attend the Academy 2018 San Antonio annual meeting in November.