Graduate School Mentoring Award for Postdoctoral Trainees

2022 Winner

Dr. Shraddha Rane
School of Health Sciences

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 notice 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 at lnielse@purdue or submitted along with the nomination letter before the nomination deadline. Nominations are not complete without the mentorship statement from the nominee.

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."

Questions? Ask the Postdoc Office Director, Dr. Lisa Nielsen (lnielse@purdue.edu).