Congratulations to the 2026 Undergraduate Research Scholars Mentor Award Recipients!

The Undergraduate Research Mentor Award recognizes faculty, postdoc, and graduate students for their exceptional mentoring of undergraduate students in enriching research experiences. Organized by the Office of Undergraduate Research, this award provides an avenue for undergraduate students to recognize and nominate their outstanding research mentors.

The Undergraduate Research Scholars Mentor Award is open to all Mines faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students mentoring undergraduate students on a research project.

Nominations are solicited widely from current undergraduate students. The recipients are recognized as part of the Undergraduate Research Symposium in April and profiles are published in the Symposium Program Book and the Office of Undergraduate Research website.

Visit the website here for more information.

FACULTY AWARDEES

Juan Lucena

Professor, Engineering, Design, and Society; Director, Humanitarian Engineering Undergraduate Program

“I have developed so much from Dr. Lucena’s mentorship and support. He has been instrumental in my being admitted to two Ph.D. programs I am currently choosing between. All in all, through my time with Professor Lucena’s mentorship, I have grown immensely and look forward to the journeys I will embark on due to his kindness towards me.”

Ramya Kumar

Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering

“I have felt my confidence in lab increase over the years I have been working with Dr. Kumar. I have a better understanding of the project I am working on and confident that I will be able to be successful in graduate school.”

POSTDOCTORAL AWARDEE

Scott Cleary

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chemistry

“In just about every way, Scott has made it clear that he cared about my learning and development as a scientist, above the work done in lab, and he took the step to push me to grow in a way I would not have received from another mentor.”

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDEES

Isaac Spackman

Graduate Student, Chemistry

“I can say without a doubt Isaac is one of the most impactful mentors I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t have taken half of the opportunities I have now if Isaac hadn’t pushed me. He has changed what I thought I was capable of doing. I now feel confident that I could succeed in any research role. When I move into a mentorship role one day, I aspire to be as caring, thoughtful, empathetic, knowledgeable, and supportive of a mentor as Isaac has been to me.”

Hannah Verboncoeur

Graduate Student, Geophysics

“Hannah has been an incredible mentor from day one, consistently bridging the gap between complex glaciological theory and practical research applications, while fostering my professional growth within the lab. I am achieving my current goals and feel equipped to accomplish my future ones directly due to Hannah’s support. As a result of her mentorship, I am incredibly excited for my future at the intersection of glaciology and electrical engineering.”