Onyuksel, professor of pharmaceutics and bioengineering, honored for her commitment to women at UIC on 2003 in the Chicago Illini Union, hosted by the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women.

As a woman in a predominantly male field and one of only three women who are full professors in the College of Pharmacy, Onyuksel provides encouragement and advice to graduate students and younger faculty.

“She’s a wonderful example,” said Debra Tonetti, assistant professor of pharmacology.

Onyuksel was on the search committee that selected Tonetti for her first tenure-track position; since then, she’s given her helpful suggestions on working toward tenure.

“She’s been through it. She tells it like it is,” said Tonetti, whose research focuses on tamoxifin resistance.

Onyuksel can point to a long, and still growing, list of professional accomplishments.

Named UIC Inventor of the Year last spring, her research has led to at least eight patents. Two start-up companies are based on her inventions.