2022 Graduate School Mentoring Award

The Council of Graduate Schools defines mentoring as: “… a more senior individual who provides career and psychosocial support to a junior member of a given organization. Recently, mentors have been found to exist laterally, virtually, among peers, and with individuals outside of the professional context. Mentorships center on an emotional commitment, which focuses on the protégé’s personal and professional growth.“

Graduate Students

The Graduate School wants to acknowledge the essential role graduate students play in our research, teaching, and engagement missions at Purdue University. If you work with a graduate student that has made a difference in your academic career and models the attributes of what we think great mentors should be, please consider encouraging them to apply for this award. Graduate students dedicate a great deal of time and energy in mentoring other colleagues, and undergraduates whether in the lab, field, or classroom.

If you feel you have contributed to excellence in mentoring consider applying for this award.

Applicants should assemble the following in one PDF document in the following order:

  1. A curriculum vita.
  2. A mentoring statement including your mentoring philosophy, commitment to mentoring and accomplishments in the area of mentoring (maximum of 500 words).
  3. One letter of support from mentees, advisor, or another staff member who has first-hand knowledge of your excellence in mentoring. Letter can be signed by multiple individuals. There can only be one letter of support.

To submit your application, follow this link.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of faculty, staff & students.

Applications are due by March 25, 2022, at 5:00 pm EST.  Late submissions will not be accepted. The winner will be announced on April 15th. The winner will receive an award of $1,500 and a plaque.

Winners will be notified by email and posted to the Graduate School Website and invited to the awards celebration to take place in May 2022.

Contact Associate Dean, Melanie Morgan, (morgan3@purdue.edu) at the Graduate School for more information.

Postdoctoral Scholars

The Graduate School wants to acknowledge the essential role postdoctoral trainees play in our research, teaching, and engagement missions here at Purdue University. If you work with a postdoc that has made a difference in your academic career and models the attributes of what we think great mentors should be, please consider nominating them for this inaugural award. Postdocs dedicate a great deal of time and energy in mentoring other postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates whether this is in the lab, field, or classroom. Anyone can nominate a postdoc for this award (i.e., graduate students, undergraduates, staff, faculty, or other postdocs).

Please note that the process for the postdoc award is different from the graduate student award. Please follow all directions given below.

If you would like to nominate someone, write a nomination letter that gives an example (or many) of how this postdoc has impacted you or others as a mentor. Mentoring can be related to research design and analysis, career and professional advice, or personal guidance. Please include the department(s) along with the program, lab group, or center in which they work. Submissions should be in a letter of 250-500 words and can be submitted by students, postdocs, faculty or staff. Collaboration on letters is welcome.

The nominated postdoc will be required to submit a mentorship statement that that describes their roles and commitment to serving as a mentor in 500 words or less, which can be sent to Lisa Nielsen or submitted along with the nomination letter before the nomination deadline. Nominations are not complete without the mentorship statement from the nominee. Please visit this link to submit the nomination letter and mentorship statement.

Nominations for postdoctoral scholars are due by 5 pm on Friday, April 8, 2022. The winner will be announced on April 15 and they will be recognized at the Graduate School Awards Banquet in May. The winner will receive an award of $1,500. Winners will be notified by email and posted to the Graduate School Website.

All questions should be directed to the Postdoc Office Director, Dr. Lisa Nielsen (lnielse@purdue.edu).