Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars
The Award for Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars recognizes the dedication to mentoring shown by faculty members who help guide postdoctoral research associates through the postdoctoral stage of their careers.
Two Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars will be given each year, one in each category below:
- Early Career – tenure-earning or non-tenure-earning faculty who are at the assistant (professor, engineer, instructor, instructional designer, lecturer, librarian, scientist, etc.) level
- Tenured or non-tenure earning faculty who are at the associate or full (professor, engineer, instructor, instructional designer, lecturer, librarian, scientist, etc.) level
Visiting and other temporary appointments are not eligible for these awards.
Faculty mentors can only be nominated for this award by scholars who have completed their postdoctoral appointment at UCF or by any UCF graduate faculty member who is familiar with the nominee’s postdoctoral mentoring history and proficiency.
Criteria
The criteria to be assessed in making this award are as follows:
- How does the faculty mentor provide a supportive environment that facilitates the best performance and talents of postdoctoral scholars in their discipline?
- How does the faculty mentor prepare postdoctoral scholars to excel in their profession? For example, how are postdocs prepared to establish their own records of scholarly activity or performance, obtain external fellowships or grants, deliver conference presentations, or engage in other professional development activities?
- What other qualities does the faculty member possess that contribute to their ability to be an outstanding mentor?
- Does the faculty mentor possess a record of achievement in successfully mentoring postdoctoral scholars to advance their careers?
Nomination Process
Nominations must be submitted electronically to Dr. John Weishampel at gradawards@ucf.edu in the College of Graduate Studies for consideration for the Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars Award on or before 5:00 p.m. on January 17, 2025.
Nominations will be reviewed by a faculty committee and recommendations for the awards will be sent to the Interim Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, who makes the final selection and notifies recipients.
The nomination must include
- a nomination form
- a letter of nomination no longer than two pages describing why the individual is being nominated and how they fulfill the criteria of the award and demonstrates outstanding mentoring practices
The content of your nomination will be anonymous unless you give permission to quote from the statements.
Upon receipt of a nomination, the College of Graduate Studies will solicit a one-page statement of a personal philosophy about postdoctoral scholar mentoring from the nominated faculty member.
Award
The winners will receive a plaque, a $ 1,000 award to be used for professional purposes, and recognition during Founders Day in early April.
Past Winners
2023
Early Career- tenure-earning or non-tenure-earning faculty who are at the assistant level
Dr. Bethany Backes, Assistant Professor, Violence Against Women Cluster & Department of Criminal Justice, College of Community Innovation and Education
Tenured or non-tenure earning faculty who are associate or full-level
Dr. Nazanin Rahnavard, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
2022
Early Career-Untenured faculty who are at the assistant professor level
Dr. Yue ‘Gurt’ Ge, Assistant Professor, School of Public Administration, College of Community Innovation and Education
Tenured faculty who are the associate or full professor level
Dr. Subith Vasu, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science