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Friday, 5:00 - over a beer Organizer: Melissa Herman The IPN Junior Faculty Educator Award will be presented to the junior IPN faculty member who stands out in the program as an exceptional over-all educator and who has gone out of their way to encourage and support the students in the IPN. This reflects any and all types of educating, training, and/or mentoring (personal and professional) and is NOT limited solely to formal classroom teaching. 2007 Junior Faculty Award Nominees: Dan Pak As a faculty member, Dr. Daniel Pak’s commitment to students is impressive. He teaches in several graduate level courses, serves as course director for ‘Applied Statistical Principles in Pharmacology’ and demonstrates his support of student development and achievement by attending many student presentations and student-faculty Journal Clubs. He serves on a number of student evaluation committees (both oral comprehensive and thesis committees) and as an interviewer makes significant contributions to the selection of graduate students for the pharmacology program and IPN. Additionally, he has trained several post-doctoral students, has hosted several IPN rotation students and had a number of Pharmacology Masters students work in the lab for the duration of their program. Dr. Daniel Pak is a brilliant scientist who combines enthusiasm for the field with a practical and systematic approach to scientific research; always asking innovative, important questions, Dr. Pak then finds sound techniques through which to find an answer. As a mentor, Dan takes a hands-on approach to training students in his lab. He is a productive researcher from whom students receive direct training, concurrently developing laboratory techniques and the ability to think creatively and strategically through execution of research. Dr. Pak takes the time to have daily contact with students and individual weekly meetings in which to examine progress and discuss future directions. He is commited to students’ development as scientists and takes an active approach to training both in the classroom and laboratory. Molly Huntsman Molly Huntsman believes in and supports IPN students. She not only serves on the thesis committee for five students plus her own thesis student, she has been a member of at least four oral exam committees for this second year class. Molly is an active recruiter of new students to the IPN; as a member of the admissions committee that goes above and beyond, Molly not only interviews perspective students, she also goes out with the recruits and writes follow up emails encouraging our top picks to make Georgetown their top pick. Molly teaches in Core, medneuroscience, both semesters of “Core II”, and neuropharmacology. To further address the educational needs of the IPN students, Molly also serves on the IPN curriculum committee. But Molly’s involvement in the IPN goes well beyond the class room and committees. Molly organized and maintains and plays for the IPN softball team (what a bunch of Jerks;) and routinely throws parties attended by both faculty and students. I know how highly Molly regards the students of the IPN, and I think it’s appropriate for us to say “Thanks! We notice and appreciate all you do for us!” Maria Donoghue I nominate Maria Donoghue for the IPN young faculty award. Despite having moved her lab here less than one year ago, Maria has managed to become one of the most involved and inspiring members of the IPN faculty. She sits on the IPN executive committee and provides a voice of sound reason, divorced from what can sometimes become silly or ugly politics. She taught 1st year “core” and received glowing reviews regarding her content and clarity, but most importantly enthusiasm. She is mentoring two IPN students with excellence, taking time to engage her mentees in one-on-one paper reading sessions, as well as sincerely caring whether their logic in any situation is scientifically sound. She is a productive and thorough researcher who manages to be both relaxed and encouraging. She makes her students feel positive and accomplished about their every result, while at the same time inspiring them to do even better the next time around. When attending seminars and neurolunches, she never fails to ask insightful, challenging, and appropriate questions. Finally, in a program comprising such a large percentage of female aspiring scientists, she is an invaluable role model for research and life. Maria’s personal life, one of dedication to her family and well-roundedness in areas of intellectual curiosity and enjoyment, never causes her to fall short of scientific or mentoring excellence. I have not heard one person who has had exposure to Maria report their interaction to be anything less than a pleasure. |
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