Outstanding Faculty Mentoring Award Winners

Christina Li (Purdue University)

• An incredible mentor who strives for excellence with integrity and high ethical standards
• Taught me to ask the right questions, think critically about my research, solve complex problems, communicate my research effectively, and be confident in my ability to do impactful science
• Open-door policy, quick response to emails/messages, understanding and friendly attitude makes her easy to approach
• Willing to work with me to learn new techniques and tackle technical and scientific challenges

Ruilan Guo (University of Notre Dame)

• Met with me every week to provide direction, and encouragement, and to evaluate my progress
• Weekly feedback and confidence in my ability made me feel I can excel in the program
• Has a distinctive and close mentoring style that makes you believe you can succeed
• Emphasizes work-life balance and advocates for mental health and wellness

Outstanding Graduate Fellow Mentoring Award Winners 

Leonard Ruggiero (University of New Mexico)

• He got me accustomed to the lab in no time and carried a heavy workload
• Worked with me to understand processes and chemistry
• Willing to incorporate cross-disciplinary knowledge and techniques
• Commitment to success has inspired me to follow a career in research

David Dean (Purdue University)

• An amazing guide and always maintained patience when I did not understand or made a mistake in the lab work
• Answers all my questions and provides excellent comments and edits to improve my writing
• Makes sure the faculty mentor is impressed by my work and speaks highly of me in front of the professor and collaborators
• Provides excellent tips and advice related to research and career topics
• A glimpse of my own future doing the same

[1] Thanks to the mentoring committee members:   Denise Driscoll (chair), Elsa Castillo, Matthew Davenport, Maeve Drummond Oakes, and Jason Hicks.