American Society of Criminology Recognizes Jill Portnoy
Image by K. Webster
12/19/2018
Contacts for media: Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell’s Jill Portnoy recently received a national award recognizing her groundbreaking research in the field of criminology.
Portnoy, an assistant professor in the university’s School of Criminology and Justice Studies, was presented with an Early Career Award from the American Society of Criminology at the organization’s national meeting.
The Early Career Award recognizes an individual who, within four years of receiving their Ph.D., makes a significant contribution to scholarly knowledge on developmental and life-course criminology. Portnoy was selected among a record-breaking number of applicants for the award this year. The award is given by the organization’s Division of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology.
Portnoy earned the honor with her research into biological and social factors that interact to explain and predict aggressive, impulsive and risky behavior, with an eye toward figuring out effective ways to intervene before anti-social behavior escalates into crime.
Her recent and ongoing research projects look at the effects of Omega-3 fatty acid supplements on children’s behavior and whether low resting heart rates predict higher levels of dishonesty and criminal behavior.
“I am incredibly honored to receive this award. It recognizes the importance of my research in improving our understanding of the causes of crime,” said Portnoy, a Portsmouth, N.H., resident.
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