DCI Update: 2022 CISTAR Outstanding Mentor Award Winners
Based on the nominations, the Mentoring Award Committee[1] selected the following individuals to receive a CISTAR Outstanding Mentor Award (and see some of the qualities for which they were chosen):
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.