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2024
Bob McMurray
Bob McMurray is a Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences. He has supported students in their education and research experiences. He fosters a thriving, friendly, and interdisciplinary environment in the lab. Bob listens to his students interests and pushes them to strive in the areas they excel in. He makes students feel seen, heard, and respected with his kindness.
Caroline Clay
Caroline Clay is not only an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts, but also an actress, director, playwright, and vocal coach. She checks in with her students in and out of class on a regular basis, both on an educational and emotional level. She constantly makes sure the needs of her students are met and won't stop till her students have what they need. She fosters a welcoming environment and strives to help young actors grow in theater while feeling loved and cared about.
2023
Rory Fisher
Dr. Rory Fisher is a Professor of Pharmacology. He has significantly supported creative research endeavors, guided academic success, and offered valuable insights on advancing careers in research. Dr. Fisher is approachable and friendly, always willing to meet and discuss various topics, creating a comfortable and productive lab environment. His encouragement and guidance have boosted confidence and demonstrated the great potential of research.
Susan Meerdink
Dr. Susan Meerdink is an Assistant Professor in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences and is an exceptional mentor whose optimism, enthusiasm, and support have been invaluable. She skillfully balances her professional and personal life while providing enthusiastic guidance and staying up to date with her mentees’ progress. Her understanding and encouragement help mentees overcome challenges and build confidence in their abilities. Dr. Meerdink’s mentorship has prepared her students for successful careers in environmental science research.
2022
Edward Sander
Dr. Edward Sander, a Professor of Biomedical Engineering, is a dedicated mentor who goes above and beyond for his students. He introduced his undergraduate researchers to faculty and staff, expanding their future possibilities and guiding them towards advanced degrees. Dr. Sander worked tirelessly to ensure participation in programs, providing financial support and accommodating individual needs. He actively engaged in learning alongside his students, fostering effective communication and personal growth. His mentorship has been instrumental in shaping the careers and futures of his mentees.
Li-Chun (Queena) Lin
Li-Chun (Queena) Lin is a dedicated mentor who has built the Iowa NeuroBank Core from the ground up. She provides undergraduate research assistants with unique opportunities to engage in diverse projects, such as growing fibroblasts and imaging human brain tissue. Queena fosters a supportive and trusting environment, believing in her students even when they doubt themselves. Her mentorship has helped students gain confidence, hands-on experience, and a sense of community within the lab. Queena’s guidance has inspired students to explore their passions in neuroscience and has been instrumental in shaping their academic and career paths.
2021
Rainbo Hultman
Dr. Rainbo Hultman, an Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and Principal Investigator at the Iowa Neuroscience Institute, has built a diverse and thriving lab, providing mentoring and research opportunities even during the pandemic. Dr. Hultman’s hands-on approach, tireless dedication, and ability to see potential in her students have shaped their careers and fostered a collaborative and supportive environment. Her effective communication, advocacy for mental health, and commitment to diversity and inclusion are truly commendable.
Maurine Neiman
Dr. Maurine Neiman, a Professor of Biology, is an exceptional mentor who prioritizes the success of her undergraduate students, even involving middle and high school students in her lab. She goes out of her way to find suitable lab members and projects that align with her students’ career goals. Dr. Neiman is always accessible, promptly responding to questions and providing continuous support. She fosters creativity and independence, allowing students to explore their interests while offering guidance and encouragement. Her dedication to her students’ professional and personal growth sets her apart as a truly remarkable mentor.
2020
Elizabeth (Betsy) Stone
Dr. Stone is a Professor of Chemistry. She mentors students by encouraging independence in research while offering strong support. She empowers students to take charge of their projects, building confidence and problem-solving skills. Dr. Stone also treats students as future colleagues, inspiring them to pursue personal research interests and supporting their academic and career growth. Her mentorship provides students with valuable experience in research, writing, and presenting, preparing them to succeed as future scientists.
Stephanie Gilbertson-White
Dr. Stephanie Gilbertson-White is a Professor of Nursing. She is known for her dedicated mentorship that blends research guidance with personal support. Her students appreciate her for fostering a collaborative, supportive environment where they can take ownership of their work while receiving thoughtful guidance. Dr. Gilbertson-White’s flexibility and compassion inspire students to achieve their academic and career goals.
2019
Philip Kaaret
Dr. Kaaret is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy. He was nominated by his mentees Hannah Gulick (a 2019 Goldwater Scholar) and Sam Ponnada (a 2019 EURA recipient). Dr. Kaaret is well-known by his students for balancing a “hands-off” approach to mentorship with an ability to directly discern and develop a mentee’s potential. His mentoring of undergraduate researchers blends teaching hard lab techniques with a good dose of lab humor. His guidance encourages them to truly think about research questions independently, allowing them to transition successfully from students to early-career researchers.
Linda McCarter
Dr. McCarter is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology. She was nominated by her students April Burgess and Evan Lamb (a 2018 EURA recipient). Two words came through in these nomination letters: compassion and inspiration. She is known to her students as a strong advocate for them and one who actively listens to their concerns, no matter if it’s a lab or a life problem. On the lab side, Dr. McCarter always shows her interest, encouraging her students to look at their experiments and outcomes from every angle to inspire their fascination with research.
2018
Dr. Antentor O. Hinton, Jr.
Dr. Hinton is a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Dr. E. Dale Abel (a 2017 DMA recipient) in the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center. He was nominated by Margaret Mungai (2019 EURA recipient), Jordan Samuel, and Serif Bacevac. Dr. Hinton is noted by his mentees for his dedication to mentorship, optimism, and contagious excitement for science. Whether it is creating practice MCAT questions or helping to hone resumes, Dr. Hinton has gone above and beyond in his duty as a mentor to leave a deep and long-lasting impact on his students. Above all else, Dr. Hinton recognizes his mentees as people.
Dr. Joyce Tsai
Dr. Tsai is a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Education and a Curator of Art at the University Of Iowa Museum Of Art. She was nominated by her student and OUR Fellow Lindley Warren. Dr. Tsai’s unique blend of expertise has made her an invaluable resource for students like Lindley. She is an unwavering advocate for the creative scholarship of her students, working to secure funding where needed and arrange opportunities that will push students as artists and academics. Dr. Tsai’s selfless generosity with her time has created career-defining experiences for her undergraduates.
2017
Dr. E. Dale Abel
Dr. Abel is the Chair and DEO of Internal Medicine, the Director of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, the Director of the Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism in the Department of Internal Medicine, and the Head of the Interdisciplinary Diabetes Clinic at the Iowa River Landing. On top of these highly demanding roles, he makes time to mentor a broad range of individuals, including many undergraduate students. His nomination for this award came from seniors Niko McCarty and Paul Taufalele, who wrote that, despite his busy schedule, “[Dr. Abel] always makes himself available to assist students with their research, grant proposals, and applications; pushing them to exceed beyond previously conceived limitations.”
Dr. Gordon Buchanan
Dr. Gordon Buchanan is an Assistant Professor in the University of Iowa’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience. His nomination for this award came from Callie Ginapp and Stephen Kruse. Each nominator said that Dr. Buchanan’s successful mentorship style comes from a “guide-from-the-side” approach, allowing students autonomy while expecting self-motivation and responsibility, combined with an open-door attitude that facilitates a sense of community within the lab and a friendly environment open to questions and discovery.
2016
Dr. Scott Baalrud
Dr. Baalrud is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He was nominated by his student Patrick Adrian, a junior majoring in Physics who works with Dr. Baalrud in the Fundamental Plasma Theory Group. In his nomination, Patrick wrote “Dr. Baalrud is an excellent candidate for this award because he has not restrained his mentorship to the confines of our project. Rather he has taken his role to include my life question: how to become a physicist. He has worked to answer it in unique ways by including me in intellectual spaces in which I can develop and in situations where I can discover myself.”
Dr. Mahmoud Abou Alaiwa
Dr. Alaiwa is an Assistant Professor in the Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine group in Internal Medicine. He was nominated by his student Chris Cozzolino, a senior Biochemistry major researching cystic fibrosis with Dr. Alaiwa. In the nomination, Chris wrote “I think that the main difference between Mahmoud and other mentors is that Mahmoud actively loves to learn, but takes it a step further by bringing me along for the ride. He is such an effective mentor because he will sit there with me in the room and teach me while he is learning new material himself, so that we could both move forward with the same knowledge base. That is such a powerful way as a student to learn material. Mahmoud has not only gained my loyalty and respect, but has made me want to provide that same experience to my future mentees.”
2015
Dr. Brandon Davies
Dr. Davies is an Assistant Professor in Biochemistry and was nominated by two students, Hannah Shows and Emily Britt. In support of Dr. Davie’s nomination, Hannah wrote “Dr. Davies has always made undergraduate student success a priority. Being part of the Davies Lab is always the best part of my week. Dr. Davies goes out of his way to provide a balance of independence and guidance to his students to make sure we are getting the most out of our experience.” In her letter, Emily said, “In our weekly lab meeting everyone is encouraged to ask questions. This has been influential for me. It would be easy to sit back and be overwhelmed by the quantity of new information. Instead, I have to engage with the material and formulate questions. I am greatly appreciative of Dr. Davies as a mentor for my development into a qualified undergraduate researcher.”
Larissa Samuelson
Dr. Samuelson is a Professor of Psychology and was nominated by Jordan Mattis and Daniel Plebanek. Jordan says of working with Dr. Samuelson, “she has taught me more about research than any class or other professor would have. No mentor is as happily committed to the mentoring process than Dr. Samuelson. I consider the time I’ve spent working with her to be the most important and influential experience I have had as an undergraduate.” Dan echoed these comments and wrote, “The key quality that sets Larissa apart is her dedication and investment to the advancement of her students. My involvement with Larissa has been one of the defining experiences of my undergraduate career. She is fully responsible for the young scientist that I have become. I cannot thank her enough for the enormous impact she has made on my life.”