Faculty research at the School of Public Policy helps shape conversations on issues affecting communities locally and globally. This year, Associate Research Professor Ryna Cui received the University of Maryland’s 2026-27 Provost’s Excellence Award for Professional Track Faculty for her outstanding contributions and accomplishments in research. The award recognizes professional track faculty members for consistently excellent contributions in teaching, research and service.
Cui is the research director for the Center for Global Sustainability. She studies global coal transition, climate and energy policy, and integrated assessment modeling. She leads the Global Fossil Transition Project, examining rapid and just coal phaseout pathways in countries including China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. She also serves as co-director of the Center’s China program and holds a joint appointment at the Joint Global Change Research Institute, a collaboration between the University of Maryland and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Her recent work has focused on energy transition pathways, fossil fuel phaseout strategies and climate ambition assessment. Cui also served as a contributing author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report.
Cui will be honored at the Fall Convocation, scheduled for September 9.
