Graduate School honors presented at banquet

Two faculty members received the Provost's Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentor at the Graduate School Awards Banquet in Purdue Memorial Union. (From left) Frank Dooley, senior vice provost for teaching and learning; award recipients Richard K. Thomas and Elizabeth J. Taparowsky; and Linda Mason, interim dean of the Graduate School. (Graduate School photo/Teresa DeMien) Download image

A variety of honors for outstanding teaching, mentoring and research were presented Monday (May 7) at the Graduate School Awards Banquet. Linda Mason, interim dean of the school, presided at the event, which took place at Purdue Memorial Union. The awards and recognitions, in order of presentation:

Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Distinguished Master's Thesis Awards nominees
Nominations were invited in 2018 in biological sciences and humanities.
* Chao Cai, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology (MS 2015 in biological sciences; PhD student in BPP). Major professor: Christopher J. Staiger.
* Lauren Haslem, Department of History (MA 2017). Major professor: Wendy Kline.

Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Excellence in Teaching Awards nominees
Nominations were invited for one master's student and one doctoral student.
* Liesl Krause, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Major professor: Joseph Rispoli.
* Mayu Miyamoto, School of Languages and Cultures. Major professor: Atsushi Fukada.

Schmidt Science Fellows Award 2017 nominees
Five nominations were invited in the natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, or computer science for this program, which operates in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. Fellowships provide a postdoctoral research year at a leading lab in the given field and attendance at four global meetings.
* Shourya Jain, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Major professor: Li Qiao.
* Jing Pan, School of Mechanical Engineering (finalist). Major professor: Jong H. Choi. 
* Scott A. Pattenaude, Department of Chemistry. Major professor: Suzanne Coucette Bart.
* Xinwu Quian, School of Civil Engineering. Major professor: Satish Ukkusuri.
* Abhronil Sengupta, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Major professor: Kaushik Roy.

Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting nominees
Recipients attend a weeklong summer meeting with Nobel laureates, this year focused on physiology and medicine.
* Frederick Damen, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering (selectee). Studying for M.D. and PhD degrees. Major professor: Craig J. Goergen.
* Shivam Patel, Health and Kinesiology, PhD student. Major professor: Chad C. Carroll.

Most Outstanding Interdisciplinary Project Award
* Kerri Rodriguez, Department of Comparative Pathobiology.

Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Awards
* David Blasing, Department of Physics and Astronomy.
* Amy Elliot, Department of English.
* Stephen Leitch, School of Hotel and Tourism Management.
* Doug Pruim, Brian Lamb School of Communication.
* Kristin Villa, Department of Pharmacy Practice.

Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor (inaugural award)
* Samantha Lee, Department of Biochemistry.
Honorable mention: Erin Kenison, Forestry and National Resources; Crystal Thornhill, Educational Studies; Maria Eugenia Cabrera, Industrial Engineering; Maithilee Motlag, Industrial Engineering.

Postdoctoral Trainee Mentoring Award (inaugural award)
* Maria Guix Noguera, School of Mechanical Engineering.
Honorable Mention: Summer Forester, Political Science; Shunmukha Padmanabhuni, Biological Sciences.

Provost's Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentor
This award goes to faculty members for mentoring of graduate students. The presentation of these two awards was made by Frank Dooley, senior vice provost for teaching and learning and professor of agricultural economics.
* Elizabeth J. Taparowsky, associate dean for research and graduate education, professor of biological sciences.
* Richard K. Thomas, professor of visual and performing arts (theatre).