Denis Paré, Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience at Rutgers University–Newark, has been named the 2024–25 recipient of Rutgers University’s Daniel Gorenstein Memorial Award, one of Rutgers’ most prestigious honors conferred on its faculty.
The Daniel Gorenstein Memorial Award was established in 1993 by family, friends, and colleagues to commemorate Professor Gorenstein’s innovative mathematical research, his skillful and enthusiastic exposition of his field, and his wise and devoted service to Rutgers University. The award was first presented in 1994 and is given each year to a Rutgers faculty member noted for both outstanding scholarly achievement and exceptional service to the university. Paré is the 31st scholar to receive this award, whose previous recipients are disciplinarily diverse, and only the second RU-N faculty member to be selected over that time-span.
Upon hearing the news, Paré experienced a mix of emotions. “I felt surprised, humbled and honored by this award,” said Paré, “plus a major case of impostor syndrome.”
Paré is a systems neuroscientist and neurophysiologist who studies the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in memory consolidation, the processing of emotional stimuli, and the generation of defensive behaviors. A pioneer in his field, he has used his research to increase our understanding of human anxiety disorders such as phobias and post-traumatic stress. In one of his most impactful discoveries, he identified a group of amygdala neurons, which regulate the impact of danger signals on the neurons that elaborate defensive behaviors. This finding ushered in a new era of clinical research for the treatment of PTSD. His contributions have been supported by continuous grant funding amounting to $20 million, and his scholarly output has been documented in more than 170 peer-reviewed journal articles, two books and 12 book chapters, and has received more than 28,000 citations.
Denis defines what it means to be an extraordinary scholar and administrator.... No one deserves this honor more.
Professor Paré is equally committed to leading a vibrant Rutgers community. The Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience (CMBN), which he co-directs, has elevated Rutgers’ global standing in neuroscience. CMBN’s mission is to advance understanding of the brain’s structure and function through excellence in neuroscience research and training. In his time as Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences–Newark, Professor Paré led the school through the challenges of the pandemic, helped reimagine the Honors College, and relaunched the Department of Urban Education. He is recognized by his peers and colleagues as a dedicated mentor and consummate academic leader who strengthens the community around him.
In announcing the award, Distinguished Professor Prabhas V. Moghe, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rutgers University, said, “Dr. Denis Paré wonderfully captures the multiple ideals of this singular recognition named in honor of a scholar who made deep and lasting contributions to Rutgers and the world.”
SASN Dean Jacqueline Mattis was equally effusive in praising Paré.
“Denis defines what it means to be an extraordinary scholar and administrator. He is one of the most highly cited and well-regarded neuroscientists in the nation, and an outstanding and generous research mentor as evidenced by the success of his former students who are now highly accomplished scholars in universities and research centers across the world,” said Mattis. “As an administrator he led SASN expertly, thoughtfully and with integrity during some of the school's most difficult moments, including the loss of a beloved Dean and a global pandemic. He is also one of the leaders of CMBN, which is one of the most important and intellectually productive research centers in the university. No words can convey how much I respect Denis, or how invaluable he has been to me and this college. No one deserves this honor more.”
Paré will receive an honorarium and commemorative certificate, and will present a lecture (“How Do Emotions Facilitate Memory?”) during the award ceremony, which takes place on May 1 (4-6pm) in the Seminar Room (Room 103) of the Aidekman Research Center at RU-N. Those who wish to attend may register here.
