Ho-Wook Jun, recipient of the University of Alabama System’s McMahon-Pleiad PrizeHo‑Wook Jun, Ph.D., professor and graduate program director of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been awarded the University of Alabama System’s McMahon‑Pleiad Prize.
The McMahon-Pleiad Prize recognizes a faculty or staff member at a UA System institution who has made significant contributions through teaching, research and service in alignment with the UA System’s missions, values and core principles.
“It is my great honor to receive the McMahon-Pleiad Prize,” Jun said. “I am deeply grateful to the University of Alabama System and UAB for this recognition and plan to use this award to directly support undergraduate and graduate students by expanding access to research and educational opportunities that foster curiosity, innovation and pathways into biomedical engineering and translational medicine.”
Jun is a national leader in regenerative medicine, known for pioneering self‑assembled bionanomatrix platforms that are advancing cardiovascular, kidney and orthopaedic therapies. His research portfolio includes more than 70 publications, 10 United States patents, and over $11 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. His discoveries are directly translating toward clinical application through Endomimetics Inc. , a company he co‑founded through collaborative research conducted at UAB and supported by more than $10 million in NIH Small Business Innovation Research funding for Food and Drug Administration‑directed studies.
Jun teaches cornerstone courses in biomaterials and tissue engineering, integrating problem‑based, team‑based and flipped‑classroom approaches that have redefined engagement in the biomedical engineering curriculum. His students consistently describe his courses as demanding yet rewarding, a standard that has earned him the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the School of Engineering Educational Excellence Award and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship.
The McMahon-Pleiad Prize honors Trustee Emeritus John J. McMahon Jr. and recognizes his family’s contributions to the UA System and the state of Alabama, including a generous gift that funds the prize. At least half of the $75,000 award is earmarked to further the recipient’s contributions through teaching, research or service.
Jun’s guidance spans more than 100 mentees who have earned national honors including Beckman Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and fellowships from the NIH. With the McMahon‑Pleiad Prize funding, he will build on this foundation by providing hands‑on research experiences and strengthening mentorship that shapes students’ academic and professional development, helping them turn ideas into real impact across the state.
“This award will allow me to further invest in students at critical stages of their training,” Jun said. “We can accelerate the development of future scientists, engineers and clinician-innovators who will translate discoveries into meaningful health solutions.”
As a 2025 Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Jun is committed to increasing opportunities for future discovery in biomedical research and innovation. His efforts underscore the UA System’s work in public service and leadership in advancing knowledge and opportunity.