UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three members of the Eberly College of Science have been selected to receive the college's Distinguished Faculty Mentoring Award in 2022. The award was created in 2019 to honor faculty members in the college for their outstanding work in mentoring students, postdocs, and faculty. This year's recipients include Kimberlyn Nelson, teaching professor of biology; Miguel Mostafá, professor of physics and of astronomy and astrophysics and associate dean for research and innovation; and Lauren Zarzar, associate professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering.

Kimberlyn Nelson

Nelson was recognized for consistently being an innovative, passionate, and supportive mentor to undergraduate students as well as to teaching and research faculty through her role as coordinator of the Penn State biology First-Year Research Initiative (FRI). Within the FRI, which Nelson pioneered at Penn State, first-year-students develop critical scientific skills, including data analysis and interpretation, experimental design, and more through special opt-in lab sections of introductory biology courses. Students are given the challenge of designing their own open-ended, discovery-based experiments on the leading edges of biology.

“Nelson not only presents information in an engaging manner, but also ignites a confidence and fire in young students to pursue additional knowledge on their own time,” said one nominator. “This quality allows the FRI lab to produce numerous inquisitive and science loving students each year who are prepared and excited to contribute to Penn State research on a larger, more independent scale.”

Over the last six years, Nelson has challenged more than 150 students through the FRI. According to a nominator, she develops a strong rapport with students year after year, “deftly balancing empathy with rigor and high standards to foster their academic and scientific growth.”

In addition to formal teaching, Nelson has provided informal mentoring to her undergraduates in the form of invaluable life, college, and career advice.

She has also made a positive impact on the FRI teaching assistants (TAs) and instructors. Nelson trains her colleagues to be more than just instructors, but to be coaches through frustration and failure and to give constructive feedback. 

“She is a mentor and a voice of wisdom,” said one student, who began as a peer mentor and moved on to be a teaching assistant for the FRI. “Her guidance helped shape me as a leader by offering me a chance to be a TA. She facilitated my growth from a young girl who was too shy to participate to a leader who makes decisions. Without her, I would not have continued on a path of leadership.”

Nelson also makes a point to approach students from different backgrounds, including underrepresented students and women. Another TA added that Nelson “brought out a passion for teaching and research that I didn’t know I had in me.”

One nominator added, “she has been an energetic, innovative, and invaluable faculty member of Department of Biology, and her mentorship has brought out the best in both our students and faculty.”

Miguel Mostafá

Mostafá was recognized for his stellar record of mentoring individuals at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoc, and most recently, junior faculty level. He leads by example, investing time and energy in the service of his mentees. According to one nominator, he “genuinely cares about the well-being and development of his mentees, encouraging them through difficult times, helping them maintain self-efficacy, and providing perspective and specific career advice.”

“He helps his mentees develop ideas constructively,” said another nominator. “For example, by brainstorming one-on-one and in group meetings, suggesting a diverse perspective, and always providing prompt and detailed feedback on their own ideas.”

Mostafá also encourages his mentees to take advantage of professional development opportunities, and many of his undergraduate and graduate students have gone on to win scholarships, participate in off-campus research experiences, and be accepted to excellent graduate programs or pursue postdoctoral research.

His mentoring is not limited to members of his own research group. For example, Mostafá is a faculty mentor for students in the Women in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) and Minority Undergraduate Research Experience (MURE) programs for NASA's Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium. He is also the faculty adviser of the Latin American Graduate Student Association at Penn State, and he has served as a mentor to many students from underrepresented groups at Penn State through the Millennium Scholars Program and Summer Research Opportunities Program.

“I know it is not an accident that many of his students are female or underrepresented students, as he’s shown a dedication to increasing the diversity of our research environment,” said one nominator.

Notably, Mostafá also mentors postdocs, providing training not only in research skills, but also in the transition to a career as independent researchers. He also helps junior faculty with their own early career development, including by providing advice on grant proposals, teaching, and managing a large research group. Importantly, Mostafá uses the opportunity to teach his mentees how to be good mentors themselves.

“I have not seen another colleague more worthy of such an award,” added a nominator.

Lauren Zarzar

Zarzar was recognized for devoting extraordinary time, effort, and thought to mentoring her research trainees, including both graduate students and undergraduates. Despite the large size of her research group, she is dedicated to providing individualized mentoring to each of her students. She also works to cultivate creative thinking and communication strategies with her and students.

“These skills are among the most difficult to cultivate in trainees, but critical to future success in running an independent research program,” said one nominator. “Lauren’s commitment to addressing this challenge signals a great deal of care about the intellectual development of her students.”

Zarzar is also deeply committed to the growth of undergraduate students, who become fully integrated into her lab, working independently in terms of their research contributions.

“One could say that graduate student training is essential to attaining promotion and tenure, but undergraduate training is a gift on the part of the mentor; it is giving back to the scientific enterprise and really a selfless activity,” said one nominator. “Professor Zarzar’s investment in her undergraduates further reflects her deep and abiding commitment to service and mentoring.”

One of her students said that “she pushes us to improve our technical and intellectual research skills constantly and is always willing to make time for me and her other students. Lauren inspires me to be more passionate about research and do the best work I can.”

Other students added that her work ethic, candor, and commitment to research and the group inspires them to mentor younger students and to hold themselves to greater standards.

“I remain convinced that I won the adviser lottery in having Lauren Zarzar as my mentor,” added another student. “Lauren exemplifies what it means to be a top tier researcher, adviser, and mentor. She helps us through roadblocks, gives encouragement and praise when things go well, commiserates when things fail, and in general supports us throughout all aspects of our academic lives.”