Mentoring Awards

Effective mentorship for our undergraduate researchers is highly valued in the Department of Chemistry.  Please see below for awards that acknowledge the support and guidance instrumental to the retention and persistence of our undergraduate researchers.

Prof. Yoon speaking with two students in the lab in front of a chemical fume hood

Departmental and Campus Mentoring Awards

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Stanley B. Mirviss Award

Through a generous donation from Joan Mirviss in honor of her father, Stanley B. Mirviss, the Department of Chemistry has been given the opportunity to celebrate the successes of effective graduate student-undergraduate researcher mentorship. Any current graduate student working in the lab of a Chemistry faculty member who is actively engaged in mentoring at least one undergraduate research student is eligible to be nominated for this award.  The nomination consists of a letter of support by the faculty mentor, as well as a short application and a letter of support written by the undergraduate mentee(s) that addresses:  1)  the mentors approach to undergraduate research and mentorship by identifying specific activities the mentor does that make them stand out as an exceptional mentor.  2)  how the mentor has been instrumental in the intellectual and career development of the mentee. 3)  Successes in research by the graduate student mentor-undergraduate researcher(s) (publications, presentations, etc.). The application packet can be found by searching ‘Chemistry Research Mentorship Award’ at the WiSH website.

Stephen D. Morton Student Support Fund

This award recognizes an undergrad/grad student pair working in the Department of Chemistry who jointly have contributed to the research endeavor.  Awardees will be selected based on their research success(es) and how the grad student enhanced the experience of the undergraduate researcher. To be eligible, the undergrad/grad student pair must be currently working together, and will continue to work together for at least one more semester (or Summer).  This award is generously donated from to the Department from Stephen Morton (BS (’54) and PhD (’62) degrees from the UW Department of Chemistry).  He credits his career success in no small way to the quality of the education he received and wishes to continue to support students in the Department of Chemistry.  The nomination consists of a letter of support by the faculty mentor, as well as a short application and a letter of support written by the undergraduate mentee(s) that addresses:  1)  the mentors approach to undergraduate research and mentorship by identifying specific activities the mentor does that make them stand out as an exceptional mentor.  2)  how the mentor has been instrumental in the intellectual and career development of the mentee. 3)  Successes in research by the graduate student mentor-undergraduate researcher(s) (publications, presentations, etc.). Nominations are typically solicited at the beginning of January with applications due in mid-February to the Departmental Scholarships Committee. The application packet can be found by searching ‘Chemistry Research Mentorship Award’ at the WiSH website.

Doban Mentorship Award

This mentorship award honors graduate students working in the Chemistry Department who serve as positive role models, thoughtful leaders, and coaches for undergraduate research students. Graduate student mentors can be nominated by their undergraduate mentee. The application consists of a cover sheet and a letter of support written by the undergraduate mentee(s) that addresses 1)  the mentors approach to undergraduate research and mentorship by identifying specific activities the mentor does that make him or her stand out as an exceptional mentor and  2)  how the mentor has been instrumental in the intellectual and career development of the mentee.  A letter of support must also be supplied by the faculty mentor.  Applications are typically available at the beginning of January with a deadline in mid-February. The application packet can be found by searching ‘Chemistry Research Mentorship Award’ at the WiSH website.

PPG Mentorship Award

This mentorship award, generously donated by PPG, Inc., is intended to encourage and recognize excellence and remarkable dedication of a chemistry graduate student in the mentoring of an undergraduate researcher. It is anticipated that awardees will have a strong commitment to undergraduate education, have made a significant positive impact on their mentees’ career aspirations, and have advanced research in their field through their mentee. Any current graduate student in the UW-Madison Chemistry Department who is actively engaged in mentoring at least one undergraduate research student is eligible for this award and can be nominated by their undergraduate mentee. The application consists of a cover sheet and a letter of support written by the undergraduate mentee(s) that addresses 1)  the mentors approach to undergraduate research and mentorship by identifying specific activities the mentor does that make him or her stand out as an exceptional mentor and  2)  how the mentor has been instrumental in the intellectual and career development of the mentee.  A letter of support must also be supplied by the faculty mentor.  Applications are typically available at the beginning of January with a deadline in mid-February. The application packet can be found by searching ‘Chemistry Research Mentorship Award’ at the WiSH website.

UW-Madison Campus Award for Mentoring Undergraduates

The Office of the Provost offers awards to recognize the important role mentors play in fostering undergraduates’ intellectual, personal and professional growth through participation in high-impact practices including research, scholarly and creative endeavors. These awards provide faculty members, academic staff and post-doctoral fellows/graduate students with recognition for their excellence in mentoring undergraduates and their contribution to our students’ Wisconsin Experience. The awards provide $2,000 of university expendable funds.  Additional information, including eligibility and application forms can be found here.

Council on Undergraduate Research Outstanding Mentorship Awards

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Chemistry Division seeks to honor exceptional mentoring and advising by higher education chemistry faculty with its Outstanding Mentorship Awards. These awards recognize transformative mentoring and advising in at least two of the following categories:

  • undergraduate students in mentor-led chemistry research projects;
  • undergraduate students through the integration of undergraduate research into chemistry coursework;
  • undergraduate students and/or faculty by utilization of diversity and inclusion best practices in chemistry education and research; and/or
  • undergraduate students and/or faculty by establishment of programmatic infrastructure that enhances undergraduate research.

Each award consists of a $500 cash prize, a certificate of recognition, a one-year individual membership to CUR, and a letter of commendation from CUR to the recipient’s institution. For additional information and eligibility, please visit the CUR Outstanding Mentorship websiteThe deadline for nominations is January 2, 2020.