We are excited to announce that we are now accepting nominations for the 2024 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar and Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Awards! Please submit your nominations by 5pm on Saturday March 16th, 2024.
Please click the links below for more information on submitting your nominations:
Call for nominations – PSPS Outstanding Postdoc Award 2024
Call for nominations – PSPS Outstanding Postdoctoral Mentor Award 2024
Feel free to contact us (PSUPostdocSociety@gmail.com) with any questions.
2023 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Maxime Caru as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Postdoc Award! Dr. Caru works in Pediatrics in the College of Medicine at the Penn State Hershey campus, and was nominated for this award by Dr. Smita Dandekar, MD, director of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program at Penn State Children’s Hospital. Dr. Caru’s primary research area at Penn State is in the field of exercise in pediatric oncology. Dr. Caru is particularly noted for his commitment to excellence in research, his dedication in mentoring others, and his efforts in science communication.
2023 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Namiko Yamamoto as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award! Dr. Yamamoto is an Assoc. Prof. in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Penn State University Park campus, and was nominated for this award by her postdoc, Dr. Vishnu Saseendran. Dr. Yamamoto’s research focus is on experimental studies of multi-functional nano-/micro-engineered materials for aerospace applications and their manufacturing. Dr. Yamamoto is praised as a dedicated, accommodating, and supportive mentor, who goes above and beyond to enhance the research experience of her mentees.
2022 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Dishary Banerjee is the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Postdoc Award! Dr. Banerjee works in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State and was nominated for this award by her faculty adviser, Assoc. Prof. Ibrahim Ozbolat. Dr. Banerjee’s primary research interest at Penn State has been bioprinting of living tissue and organs – particularly, the development of a lung model using three dimensional (3D)-bioprinting by incorporation of multi-cell compartments. In addition to her dedication to research, Dr. Banerjee is an enthusiastic mentor and science communicator.
2022 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Lindsay Fernandez-Rhodes is the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award! Dr. Fernandez-Rhodes is an Asst. Prof. in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State and was nominated for this award by her postdoc, Dr. Cristin McArdle. Dr. Fernandez-Rhodes’ research is interdisciplinary, spanning the areas of Genetic, Epigenetic, and Social Epidemiology. Dr. Fernandez-Rhodes is an excellent mentor who fosters an “open, collaborative and dynamic research environment where she champions the work of mentees.” She is an enthusiastic leader and has also been praised for her supportive and accessible communication style.
2021 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Ananda Yapa Bandara as the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Postdoc Award. Dr. Bandara works at the Department of Plant Pathology & Environmental Microbiology at Penn State. Dr. Bandara was nominated for this award by his faculty adviser, Dr. Paul Esker. Dr. Bandara’s research integrates both computational epidemiology, as well as laboratory-focused research on understanding the microbiome and its role in soybean production. In addition to being an exceptional researcher, Dr. Bandara has also been instrumental in guiding the research of multiple graduate and undergraduate students at Penn State.
2021 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Janet Van Hell as the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award. Dr. Van Hell is a Professor of Psychology and Linguistics at the Department of Psychology at Penn State. Her research combines neuropsychological, behavioral, and linguistic techniques to study patterns of cross-language interaction and transfer in child and adult second language learners at different levels of proficiency. Dr. Van Hell was nominated for this award by her postdocs, Dr. Danielle Dickson, Dr. Li-Fang Lai and Dr. Eric Pelzl. Dr. Van Hell has been praised as being highly accessible to all her postdocs and is closely involved in their professional development. To her postdocs, she is an inspiring mentor and friend.
2020 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Karen C. Poh as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Postdoc Award. Dr. Poh is a postdoc in the Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences and was nominated by her postdoc advisor, Dr. Erika Machtinger. Dr. Poh’s enthusiasm, funding success, research productivity, strengths in communication and collaboration, and dedication to public service led to her selection as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Postdoc Award. In the words of her nominator, “Karen embodies the innate intelligence, personality, drive, record of production, and abilities that this award represents.”
2020 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Joan Redwing as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award. Dr. Redwing is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and holds appointments in the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering. She is also the Director of the NSF Materials Innovation Platform – 2D Crystal Consortium. Dr. Redwing was nominated by Drs. Benjamin Huet, Haoyue Zhu, and Tanushree Choudhury. She is invested in mentoring postdocs through open communication, active presence in the lab, fostering and maintaining positive group dynamics, and proactive help in their professional development. In the words of her nominators she has a ‘people first approach,’ which led to her selection as the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award.
Dr. Redwing and Dr. Poh will be recognized at the 13th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition on 24-25, 2020 to be held online. Penn State Postdoc Society functions to enhance the postdoctoral experience at Penn State by providing resources to assist postdoctoral scholars and fellows in their professional and personal development and is advised by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. Further details of PSPS award recipients for past years can be found at https://postdoc.psu.edu/awards/ and Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition can be found at https://www.research.psu.edu/opa
2019 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce Dr. Molly Hanlon as the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Postdoc Award. Dr. Hanlon was nominated by Drs. Jonathan Lynch, Kathleen Brown, Erin Connolly, and Teh-hui Kao. She is a postdoc in the Department of Plant Science. In the words of her nominators “Molly is a truly exceptional young scientist, conducting novel research with vigor and creativity, managing a highly complex and multidisciplinary research project, and mentoring young scientists, all while maintaining very active outreach.”
Dr. Hanlon will be presented with a plaque acknowledging this honor at the 12th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition on September 18, 2019. The awards ceremony at the exhibition will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the HUB. Postdocs, research associates, faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend. More details about the 12th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition that is jointly organized by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Penn State Postdoc Society can be obtained at www.research.psu.edu/opa and by contacting postdocaffairs@psu.edu.
2019 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
2018 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
Dr. Sterner will be presented with a plaque acknowledging this honor at the 11th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition on September 28, 2018. The awards ceremony at the exhibition will take place at 3:45 p.m. in Alumni Hall, HUB. Postdocs, research associates, faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend. More details about the 11th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition that is jointly organized by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Penn State Postdoc Society can be obtained at www.research.psu.edu/opa and by contacting postdocaffairs@psu.edu.
2018 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
Dr. Grozinger will be presented with a plaque acknowledging this honor at the 11th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition on September 28, 2018. The awards ceremony at the exhibition will take place at 3:45 p.m. in Alumni Hall, HUB. Postdocs, research associates, faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend. More details about the 11th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition that is jointly organized by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Penn State Postdoc Society can be obtained at www.research.psu.edu/opa and by contacting postdocaffairs@psu.edu.
2017 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
Dr. Pollock will be presented with a plaque acknowledging this honor at the Tenth Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition on September 22, 2017. The awards ceremony at the exhibition is open to postdocs, research associates, faculty, staff and students and will take place at 4:15 p.m. in Heritage hall, HUB. More details about the Tenth Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition that is jointly organized by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Penn State Postdoc Society can be obtained at www.research.psu.edu/opa and by contacting postdocaffairs@psu.edu.
2017 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
Dr. Mahadevan will be presented with a plaque acknowledging this honor at the 10th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition on September 22, 2017. The awards ceremony at the exhibition is open to postdocs, research associates, faculty, staff and students and will take place at 4:15 p.m. in Heritage hall, HUB. More details about the Tenth Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition that is jointly organized by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Penn State Postdoc Society can be obtained at www.research.psu.edu/opa and by contacting postdocaffairs@psu.edu.
2016 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award
The Penn State Postdoctoral Society has selected Dr. Paolo Margaria, Postdoctoral Scientist in the lab of Prof. Cristina Rosa within the Department of Plant Pathology & Environmental Microbiology, as the recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Postdoc Award. Dr. Margaria is recognized as a “truly remarkable and versatile scientist”. His broad scientific experience, ranging from the field to the lab and from insect vector biology to plant virology, has resulted in the publication of 5 papers in 2016 alone. Dr. Margaria is also extremely active in community outreach, leading high school students in lab experiences through the Penn State Upward Bound Math and Science Program and winning the “2016 Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society Award” for excellence in research and service. Dr. Margaria was nominated by his faculty mentor, Dr. Cristina Rosa.
2016 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
The Penn State Postdoctoral Society has selected Dr. Matam Vijay-Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Science, as the recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Postdoctoral Mentor Award. Dr. Vijay-Kumar is recognized as a “highly productive, inspiring and outstanding mentor” who is “devoted to the success of postdoctoral fellows.” Dr. Vijay-Kumar’s work on metabolic syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) directly benefits public health and has been highly cited academically as well as in the traditional and social media. Dr. Vijay-Kumar teaches his postdocs faculty-relevant skills, including grant writing, collaboration and leadership, in order to prepare them for careers as productive, independent researchers. Prof. Vijay-Kumar was nominated by Piu Saha and Vishal Singh.
Dr. Nikki Shariat was recognized by the Penn State Postdoc Society as the 2015 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar. Dr. Shariat was nominated by her faculty mentor, Dr. Edward Dudley, for herresearch, teaching and service accomplishments while in the Food Science Department. In addition to asuccessful publication record, Dr. Shariat’s achievements include conceptualizing and teaching aprofessional development class for undergraduates multiple semesters and contributing to the CentreCounty community through volunteer leadership and fundraising. Dr. Shariat is now a faculty member in the Biology Department at Gettysburg College where she continues to teach and conduct research on Salmonella, the leading bacterial cause of food-borne illness in the U.S. The award was presented to her advisor Prof. Dudley.
Professor John Tooker was awarded the 2015 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award by the Penn State Postdoc Society. This award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated her or his commitment to exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral scholars at Penn State University. Dr. Tooker was nominated by multiple postdoctoral scholars for his exceptional availability and responsiveness, ability and willingness to provide constructive feedback, and for prioritizing the professional development of his students and postdoctoral researchers.