Faculty Mentor of the Year Award

The Faculty Mentor of the Year Award honors faculty members who play a transformative role in the professional and personal development of postdoctoral scholars. Exceptional mentorship is not just about offering guidance—it’s about fostering growth, creativity, and confidence as postdocs navigate the pivotal stages of their careers. Great mentors provide a nurturing environment, offering both professional and emotional support while valuing the diverse backgrounds and perspectives their postdocs bring.

In addition to academic guidance, these mentors actively create opportunities for their postdocs to succeed. They open doors to new opportunities, whether by encouraging their postdocs to share their research at conferences, introducing them to key figures in the field, or helping them navigate the next steps in their careers. By prioritizing open communication and advocacy, these faculty members ensure that their postdocs feel supported every step of the way.

The award is presented annually at the University of Maryland's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs' Postdoctoral Research Symposium. In 2024, this recognition became a system-wide initiative for the first time, highlighting the shared commitment of institutions across the system to collaborate in elevating and supporting postdoctoral mentorship.

Below, we proudly honor the past recipients of the Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, whose dedication to mentorship has made a lasting impact on the postdoctoral community.

2024

Elizabeth Redcay, Professor, Department of Psychology

Gregg Duncan, Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering

2023

Megan Fritz, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology

Nathan Fox, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology