News Release

Athar N. Malik, a Johns Hopkins University junior from Novi, Mich., has received an honorable mention in USA Today's 2004 All-USA Academic Team program, the daily newspaper's annual recognition of the academic performance and leadership of a select group of college and university students.

Malik, a 20-year-old biomedical engineering major from Novi, Mich., is one of three undergraduates at Johns Hopkins to be named to the team this year and is one of 21 Johns Hopkins students honored by USA Today in the past 13 years. This year, the newspaper's panel of educators considered approximately 600 nominees with at least sophomore standing from four-year institutions nationwide. Twenty students each were named to the first, second and third teams; 22 other students were chosen as honorable mentions.

"It was a tremendous honor to be among this select group of students" said Malik, who was co-valedictorian of the Class of 2001 at Grand Blanc High School in Michigan.

At Johns Hopkins, Malik has conducted research related to biomaterials and tissue engineering in the laboratory of Jennifer Elisseeff, assistant professor of biomedical engineering. He has collaborated with Elisseeff and others on two research papers that have been published in scholarly journals and a third that is under review.

Outside the lab, Malik serves as a resident adviser in the university's Homewood Apartments; is actively involved in his religious community and youth group; volunteers at the Shepherd's clinic, which provides primary care for the uninsured; and is president of Johns Hopkins Student Pugwash, an organization that aims to promote social responsibility in the application of science and technology. He also serves on the board of directors of the national organization Student Pugwash USA.

Malik's goal is a medical research career as an academic physician.

For information or digital images of Malik, contact Phil Sneiderman at 443-287-9960.