We are delighted to announce the 2023 NM EPSCoR Mentor Award winners—Sihua Shao (NMT), Abdullah Mueen (UNM), and Son Cao Tran (NMSU).
NM EPSCoR Mentor Awards
The NM EPSCoR Mentor Award recognizes mentors in STEM research and education who demonstrate excellence in supporting students’ academic, research, and career endeavors, and in creating supportive environments for all students. Eligible nominees are faculty, staff, or postdocs in a STEM field at a New Mexico institution of higher education. The deadline for students to nominate an excellent mentor is May 9, 2025.
Excellent Mentors
- have strong interpersonal and professional relationships with their mentees, demonstrating personal traits of accessibility, honesty, empathy, consistency, and patience.
- tailor their mentoring styles and content to their mentee's needs.
- work to advance their mentee’s academic, research, and professional goals in directions most desired by that individual, including advising in research, promoting opportunities outside of the classroom, assisting with successful transitions, and paying attention to the pragmatic aspects of career development.
Adapted from Rackham Graduate School (2015); Burroughs Wellcome Fund & HHMI (2006)
NOMINATION INFORMATION
NM EPSCoR is seeking nominations for the 2025 NM EPSCoR Mentor Award which recognizes New Mexico STEM research or education faculty, staff, or postdocs who demonstrate excellence in supporting students’ academic, research, and career endeavors, and in creating supportive environments for all students. The deadline for students to nominate their mentors is May 9, 2025 at 5pm. Nominated mentors will be contacted to provide a Statement of Mentoring Philosophy.
ELIGIBILITY FOR NOMINATION
Nominees must be a faculty, staff member, or postdoc in a STEM field at a New Mexico institution of higher education. Previous NM EPSCoR mentor award winners are not eligible to be nominated.
NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
- Nominating student or postdoc: Complete online nomination form and statement of nomination (up to 500 words). Statement of nomination should address how the nominee exemplifies the characteristics of an excellent mentor. Deadline: May 9, 2025 at 5pm MT
- Nominated mentors will be notified of nomination and a Statement of Mentoring Philosophy will be requested.
AWARD CRITERIA
- Demonstration of excellent mentor characteristics (see above).
- Contribution to the success of undergraduate and graduate students in New Mexico’s research ecosystem.
REFERENCES
Burroughs Wellcome Fund and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. (2006). Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty, Second Edition. https://www.hhmi.org/developing-scientists/making-right-moves
Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan. (2018). How to Mentor Graduate Students: A Guide for Faculty. http://www.rackham.umich.edu/downloads/publications/Fmentoring.pdf
Questions?
Contact Selena Connealy at 505-217-5605 or connealy@epscor.unm.edu