Faculty Mentor of the Year

The purpose of this student-nominated award is to appreciate and recognize exemplary faculty who provide undergraduate students access to research experiences and embody exceptional mentorship practices that help students reach their academic and career goals. Nominate your faculty mentor

2026 Recipient

Ziteng Wang, associate professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Ziteng Wang is committed to mentoring undergraduate researchers and supporting the next generation of innovators. Wang has mentored students participating in OSEEL programs for several years, he has served as a judge for CURE and provides valuable feedback to OSEEL on ways to improve opportunities for undergraduate researchers.

Here are some highlights from his student nominations:

“Dr. Wang supported my success by developing clear expectations but also allowing creative freedom with the solution I chose and experimented with. He provided guidance when necessary and helped point me in the right direction with his advice and previous experience when I was stuck or looking for some help. Through his mentorship and open-mindedness, I was able to approach him with new ideas and creative solutions. This helped boost my confidence with problem-solving and independent research.”
- Jack Rissman

“Dr. Wang has significantly impacted my academic and professional development by showing me how collaborative and interdisciplinary research can be. Through this project, I have strengthened my technical and communication skills while applying concepts from my Industrial & Systems Engineering coursework to healthcare challenges. He has also provided opportunities for professional growth, including supporting my work being presented at the NCUR conference. His mentorship has helped me see how my skills as an engineer can contribute to meaningful research and real-world impact.”
- Angelica Sanyal

---

2025 Recipient

William (Bill) Martin, assistant professor, Biological Sciences

Bill Martin’s commitment to providing access to undergraduate research experiences to all students and his ability to foster confidence and meet students where they are to maximize their growth as researchers is evident in his teaching methods and recognized by many students. 

Here are a few highlights from his student nominations:

“Dr. Martin has helped me and our class curate our best work into our research. He has done this by being available for questions before and after class, giving feedback on our abstracts and generally pushing us to do our best in terms of our research and learning goals.”

“His belief in me allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the biology community, despite my academic challenges...He also gave me the confidence to present my research, something I once thought impossible.”

---

2024 Recipient

Allison Gladfelter, associate professor, Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Allison Gladfelter’s passion, knowledge, and ability to connect and encourage students are characteristics and practices that have made a positive impact not only on a Research Rookie this year, but on many students in previous years.

Research Rookie Zoey Proper shared: 

“Even though we are from different departments, she has been great at relating to my future career as a physical therapist. She is extremely passionate about autism and neurodiversity which has allowed me to develop a passion for advocacy.”