Mentor Awards

The Undergraduate Faculty Research Mentor Award for 2025 was presented to Dr. Shengli Dong for mentoring UROP student Daisy Perez in research on Fostering Workplace Supports and Success Among Older Workers.

Dr. Shengli Dong
"Trusted mentorship of undergraduate students is pivotal, considering many of them arrive at college with a passion for inquiry but with little to no idea of what research entails and how collaborative its practice can be. My key strategies for mentoring Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) mentees include 1) enhancing their interest and passion in research, 2) fostering self-efficacy and competence in conducting research, and 3) getting them prepared for their future professional development.  

— Dr. Shengli Dong, from his mentoring statement

“Dr. Shengli Dong has been an exceptional mentor throughout my UROP research experience, providing unwavering support, insightful guidance, and an inspiring example of dedication to undergraduate research at Florida State University. His mentorship has not only helped me develop critical research skills but has also deepened my understanding of the intersection between disability, mental health, and AI technology. 
    
From the very beginning, Dr. Dong fostered an open and welcoming research environment, encouraging curiosity and intellectual growth. He takes the time to ensure that undergraduate researchers understand complex concepts while also challenging us to think critically and independently. His ability to break down intricate ideas and make them accessible has been instrumental in my academic growth. Whether through detailed feedback on my work or one-on-one discussions, Dr. Dong consistently pushes me to refine my analytical skills and approach research with a thoughtful, methodical perspective. 

— Daisy Perez, UROP student 2024-2025, from her nomination letter

The Post-Doc Undergraduate Research Mentor Award for 2025 was presented to Dr. Chris Omni. Dr. Omni mentored UROP student Eryn Files on her UROP project: Discovering SoulClap: An Intergenerational Auto-Ethnographic Discussion on Black Joy, Health, and Wellness.

Dr. Chris Omni

"As a mentor and educator to undergraduate and graduate-level students, I actively challenge the traditional pedagogical stance that takes the position of mentor/teacher as power and students as recipients of said power. I firmly believe that this marginalizing demonstration of “(dis)empowerment” serves to further illuminate the us/them binary. As I strive to disrupt this typical White, patriarchal, heteronormative system, I playfully two-strand twist Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings’ Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) with Dr. Hyunji Kwon’s Critical Emotional Praxis (CEP) to create transformative experiences for students that are learner directed.

First, I turn to CRP because it approaches “teaching as a pedagogy of opposition, not unlike critical pedagogy, but specifically committed to collective, not merely individual, empowerment” (Ladson-Billings, 1995, p. 160). Next, I turn to and support CEP’s argument that “critical pedagogy lacks emotional engagement and can thus cause ethical problems” (Kwon, 2020, p. 81). Emotionality is essential to the life I live, the courses I teach, the time I spend mentoring, and the close knit communities that I develop within and out of the class. Oftentimes, you will hear mentees and students refer to me as their “Academic Aunty.”

—Dr. Omni from her mentoring statement

"Any student would be blessed to work under a mentor like Dr. Chris Omni. Dr. Omni founded the OMNI Institute, promoting Outreach, Mentorship, and Narrative Inquiry. Alongside several of her mentees, I appreciatively call Dr. Omni my "Academic Auntie." In her own words, Dr. Omni seeks to "increase undergraduate participation in research to strengthen the pipeline of underrepresented researchers pursuing graduate degrees."  
    
From Day One, Dr. Omni makes it clear that she prioritizes a healthy team and personal progress. Dr. Omni recognizes the excellence of her team. She chooses to hold space for students' humanity. She challenges us to "breathe in gratitude,” reminding us that although our work is essential, we can never effectively pour from an empty cup."

—Eryn Files, UROP student 2024-2025, from her nomination letter

The Graduate Student Undergraduate Research Mentor Award for 2025 was presented to Jack Mills. Mills mentored Morgan Walker during their work on Modern Indicators of Historical Injustices: A Dataset of Structural Bias in the Policing of Racialized Violence in Sundown Towns.

Jack Mills

"I believe that mentorship is a fundamental aspect of personal and professional growth. Everyone has the potential to be a mentor, and those with experience play a crucial role in helping others recognize their own ability to guide, support, and inspire. True mentorship is a cycle—one that fosters confidence and cultivates the next generation of mentors. In my own approach, I emphasize people over products, striving to build a sense of community around every project— whether it is a class, a research initiative, committee work, or academic writing. While the “product” often serves as the constant in my mentorship, the actual individuals involved in my work are always different. Each person brings their own strengths, challenges, and perspectives, and as a scientist, I know that variation is where meaningful insights emerge. Because of this, a person-first approach to mentoring is something I deeply value and intentionally cultivate.

To me, mentorship is not just guiding others toward professional milestones—it is about creating a self-fulfilling culture of support, curiosity, and shared success. By emphasizing the people behind the work and ensuring that both interpersonal and interprofessional harmony are prioritized, I hope to contribute to a cycle of mentorship that empowers the next generation of scholars, researchers, and leaders."

—Jack Mills, from his mentoring statement

"Although I’ve only known Mr. Mills for a short time, he has easily become the best staff I’ve met since being at FSU. His dedication to our project has been inspiring. As a current graduate student, Mr. Mills has had a full plate, even completing (and passing) one of his most important exams in graduate school. However, that didn’t stop him from his role as our mentor. He continued to meet with us, answer every single email within record time regardless of when it was sent, and understand our workloads as well.

Having our weekly meetings with Mr. Mills is one of my favorite parts of my Fridays. When we all get together, he fosters a room of kindness and joy. We discuss how our week has been, whatever has been on our minds, and of course, our research. He genuinely cares about each and every one of us and if we are ever feeling burnt out, he is quick to give us a break and really check in on us. He has became a mentor for us in our personal and academic lives. He is truly an inspiration and has helped foster my love for research. I would not be where I am right now without his mentorship! 

—Morgan Walker, from her nomination letter

The Graduate Student Undergraduate Research Mentor Award for 2025 was presented to Isabel Coiduras. Coiduras mentored Aayushi Ranjan on her project Evaluating Cognitive Deficits in 3xTg-AD Mice Using a Linear Reorientation Task​.

Isabel Coiduras

"Mentoring has provided a challenging but rewarding avenue for my own personal and professional growth, and I believe the same is true for my mentees. Throughout the last four years, I have developed my mentoring strategies and approach to foster collaboration and inclusivity to empower young scientists the way that my mentors empowered me. I believe that mentor-mentee relationships are built upon mutual respect, and these relationships provide meaningful experiences that promote the professional development of both parties. From personal experience, I believe that mentoring opens opportunities to advance skills and promote lifelong networks beyond the current laboratory, department, or institution. Using a flexible approach, I aim to tailor relationships with my mentees based on my own personal experiences and their specific learning styles using each mentoring opportunity as a chance to continue developing my mentoring strategies. My overall goal as a mentor is to encourage and support my mentees and to build their research and critical-thinking skills while simultaneously enhancing productivity in the lab. To accomplish this goal, I begin each mentoring experience with a set of objectives that address critical skills necessary for a career in biomedical fields.  

—Isabel Coiduras, from her mentoring statement

"Being a mentor is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles one can take on, requiring skills like patience, dedication, and a genuine passion for guiding others. While many struggle to embody all of these skills, Isabel Coiduras truly breaks that mold, excelling as an inspiring and supportive mentor. From the very beginning of my UROP research journey, Miss Coiduras demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring that I and my fellow undergraduates had a comprehensive and enriching experience.

One of her most remarkable qualities is her ability to inspire critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Instead of simply providing answers, she always challenges me to think through problems and develop my own line of reasoning that I could then run by her. This approach has significantly improved my analytical skills, teaching me how to approach scientific questions methodically and with confidence. Additionally, she pushed me outside of my comfort zone in ways that have been truly transformative.

Her mentorship has been instrumental in my academic growth, and I am confident that many other students would echo my sentiments. She embodies the very best of what a research mentor should be, and I am deeply grateful for her influence on my research journey. 

—Aayushi Ranjan, UROP student 2024-2025, from her nomination letter