Rudy Chang has been named the recipient of the 2026 James L. Doti Outstanding Graduate Student Award, the highest honor for graduate students at Chapman University. The Doti Awards recognize distinguished academic achievement, scholarly or creative activity, and service, and are granted to one graduating master’s and one graduating doctoral student.

Rudy joined Chapman University as a Ph.D. student in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Fall 2022, entering the laboratory of Rachita Sumbria, Ph.D.. From the start, Rudy demonstrated exceptional productivity and dedication to his research on the brain microvasculature. His achievements include authorship on five peer-reviewed publications (including three as co-first or first author) and a book chapter. He has served in leadership roles within the CUSP student chapter of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), holding positions as both Vice-President and President, and has been instrumental in organizing key community events such as Research Day and the Summer High School Program. Rudy is currently supported by the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and is preparing to defend his dissertation, Red Blood Cell Interactions with the Brain Microvasculature: Mechanisms of Hemorrhagic and Ischemia-Like Injury.

Rudy’s principal investigator, Sumbria, said it best in her nomination letter. “Rudy embodies everything the James L. Doti Outstanding Graduate Student Award was created to honor — scholarly and academic excellence, professional leadership, and an inspiring contribution to the Chapman community.”