Seven recognized for commitment to mentoring undergraduate students in research

Maria Alejandra Perez, Elizabeth Bowdridge, Alexey V. Ivanov, Soumya Srivastava, Glen P. Jackson, Joshua Meadows and Mason Hamilton
 

Six faculty members and one graduate student were recently named recipients of the Travis Stimeling Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research. 

Story by Mountaineer E-News
Photos by Mountaineer E-News

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Office of the Provost, the award serves to recognize and reward faculty and graduate students who encourage and support undergraduates in making an original intellectual or creative contribution to their discipline. 

Formerly the Faculty Awards for Distinction in Mentoring Undergraduates in Research, the award was renamed this year in memory of Travis Stimeling, former professor of musicology in the College of Creative Arts, who passed away in November.

Stimeling was a recipient of the award in 2022 and was a passionate advocate of undergraduate research and providing students with research opportunities.  

Awards are presented in four categories: arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, biosciences and health sciences, and physical sciences and technology. 

In 2022, an award for Graduate Student Mentor was added to recognize the important role graduate students play in mentoring undergraduates in research and creative work. 

The 2024 recipients are: 

• Maria Alejandra Perez, associate professor of geography in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Arts and Humanities 
  

• Elizabeth Bowdridge, assistant professor of physiology, pharmacology and toxicology in chemistry in the School of Medicine, Biosciences and Health Sciences 
  

• Alexey Ivanov, research assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine in the School of Medicine, Biosciences and Health Sciences
  

• Soumya Srivastava, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Physical Sciences and Technology
  

• Glen Jackson, Ming Hsieh Distinguished Professor of Forensic and Investigative Science, in the Eberly College, Physical Sciences and Technology
  

• Joshua Meadows, service assistant professor of management information systems and director of Data Driven WV in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, Behavioral and Social Sciences 
  

• Mason Hamilton, a fifth-year PhD candidate in chemistry, Graduate Student Mentor 

“The benefits of engaging undergraduate students in research and creative work are widely recognized in literature, including higher retention rates and more successful degree completion,” said Cinthia Pacheco, assistant director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.

“We know this success is only possible because of the outstanding faculty who support not only their students’ intellectual and professional development through scholarly pursuits, but also provide adequate emotional and social support.”  

Find more information on each recipient. 

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