Seven Invaluable Mentors receive Spring 2025 Mentorship Spotlight Awards
The winners were nominated by students, postdocs, faculty, and staff in recognition of their exceptional commitment to mentorship.
Seven members of the Department of Chemistry community have been honored with the department’s semi-annual Mentorship Spotlight Award. Established in 2020, this award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to fostering a positive working environment for those around them, leading by example, and generally demonstrating outstanding mentorship. Each winner will be presented with a prize in the form of a crystal award and a monetary sum.
Spring 2025 Mentorship Spotlight Awardees:
Dr. Eduard Bobylev
Dr. Eduard Bobylev, a postdoctoral researcher, was chosen for his contagious enthusiasm, contributing his mentorship generously and combining his technical expertise and patient teaching to build confidence, independence, and community within the Johnson group. “One of the critical characteristics that makes him a good mentor is that he treats everyone with utmost respect, no matter what their background or position is. If you’re willing to learn, Eddy is willing and excited to help along the way.”
“Learning chemistry takes both skill and intuition, which are hard to gain without hands-on guidance, making the mentor-mentee relationship essential,” Bobylev shared. “Mentoring students of different fields of expertise brings fresh ideas and perspectives that strengthen scientific work. I enjoy passing on my passion for science and I find the experience deeply rewarding and educational.”
Bobylev’s research is on the interface between organic, supramolecular and polymer chemistry. He is investigating fundamental questions on the supramolecular self-assembly of nature mimicking metal organic cages, and their implementation for a variety of applications such as water purification.
Kathleen Downey
Kathleen Downey, a graduate student, was chosen for her mentorship and strong commitment to supporting students in the Movassaghi group. “Katy has been an outstanding mentor to several of her peers, a UROP student, and a visiting graduate student. . .and has demonstrated a strong commitment to scientific development and progress in multiple Department of Chemistry labs.”
Downey shared that, “Wonderful mentors have shaped who I am both inside and outside of the lab. I hope that through mentorship, I can foster the same passion for science in others that has made research rewarding and fun for me.”
Downey works on the total synthesis of indole-containing natural products and the development of new reactions for organic synthesis in the Movassaghi group.
Mak Kirkman-Davis
Mak Kirkman-Davis, a graduate student, was chosen for their transformative mentorship, fostering independence, confidence, and scientific rigor in mentees by gradually increasing responsibility while maintaining a supportive and collaborative environment in the Freedman group. “They strive to create a welcoming atmosphere where you can feel comfortable asking any level of question… but the true credit to their mentorship skills comes through their ability to balance this safe space with the pressure to begin taking control of your research.”
“Mentorship is a deeply important and joyful part of my life,” said Kirkman-Davis. “I love supporting fellow learners as they grow new skills and perspectives.”
Kirkman-Davis designs, synthesizes, and measures tailor-made molecular qubit candidates for quantum sensing and telecommunication. They leverage the eclectic electronic structures of lanthanides ions in molecular environments for direct tuning of quantum properties. Specifically, they use bright d-f emission to target sensing applications, and narrow f-f emission and hyperfine structure for telecommunications.
Wei Hao Lee
Wei Hao Lee, a graduate student, was chosen for his exceptionally generous and patient mentorship and who goes above and beyond to offer thoughtful scientific guidance and personal support, creating a welcoming, growth-oriented environment for his lab mates in the Nolan group.
Lee shared, “I believe that teaching is a two-way learning experience–the more we uplift others with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and critical discussion, the more we will improve and realize our full potential as a team. To set off a reaction, all it takes is for someone to step up and be the spark.”
Lee’s research investigates how the host innate immune protein calprotectin affects interspecies dynamics between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two pathogens of major clinical concern that cause debilitating polymicrobial infections. While calprotectin protects the host against infection by sequestering essential metal nutrients as part of nutritional immunity, Lee’s research, recently published in mBio, uncovered that calprotectin has metal-independent function that is not accounted for in the current working model of calprotectin.
Dr. Pawel Loewe
Dr. Pawel Loewe, a postdoctoral researcher, was chosen for his generosity of time and genuine investment in others that has profoundly shaped the personal and professional lives of many in the Cummins group. “What truly distinguishes Dr. Loewe as a mentor is the inclusive and cooperative atmosphere he helps foster in our lab… His approachable demeanor and genuine hope in the success of others has undoubtedly created a positive collaborative environment.”
“I’ve learned that when people feel acknowledged, supported, and given space to grow, they become more confident, creative, and independent,” Loewe shared. “Building that kind of environment, where others feel encouraged to pursue their ideas, is one of the most rewarding parts of research. There’s nothing more uplifting than watching someone discover their potential and take pride in what they’ve achieved.”
Dr. Chiara Giannone
Dr. Chiara Giannone, a postdoctoral researcher, was chosen for her transformative mentorship whose dedication to inclusive, hands-on training and thoughtful support allows her to elevate the research and confidence of every team member she supports in the Shoulders group. “Chiara has taught me about the joy of creativity coupled with deep scientific knowledge and a careful eye for experimentation, and I would not have the scientific perspective I have today without her deeply thoughtful mentorship.”
Dr. Tong Wu
Dr. Tong Wu, a postdoctoral researcher, was chosen for his selfless mentorship and investment in helping an undergraduate student flourish as a confident researcher in the Suess group. “Tong has been an incredibly thoughtful and patient mentor, consistently making me feel like a top priority–he strikes a careful balance between offering guidance and giving me the independence to grow as a chemist-in-training.”
“I benefited a lot from my mentor in the early years of my graduate school, and I realized how a good mentor can help mentees build up interest, confidence and passion in research,” shared Wu. “I would like to share my knowledge and experience with younger students and witness their progress and success.”
Wu’s research focuses on heterometal-incorporated iron-sulfur clusters. Mo, V and Fe-only nitrogenases carry out biological nitrogen fixation. These isoenzymes have different efficiencies for N2 reduction, attributed to the electronic structures difference of the nitrogenases catalytic cofactors (Fe-Moco, Fe-Vco and Fe-Feco). Wu studies the electronic structures of synthetic [MFe3S4] clusters and their reactivity toward p-acids like N2 and CO, thereby understanding the role of M-Fe interactions in these synthetic models.
