The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research recently honored four professors for their dedication to mentoring with the Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor Award during the 17th annual Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars.
The student-nominated award recognizes UK faculty who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mentoring undergraduate researchers, providing exceptional undergraduate research experiences, as well as supporting and promoting undergraduate research initiatives on campus.
This year, students nominated a record number of 42 faculty mentors for the award, representing 30 disciplines and eight colleges. During the showcase’s award ceremony, the four outstanding faculty mentors were recognized for 2023. Of those four, was Martha Grady, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Grady was nominated by student Tony Butera, who said, “Dr. Grady has gone above and beyond when it comes to being committed to getting the best out of me. She has provided me with guidance, support, advice and other resources that have helped me in being successful in my research endeavors. Challenges and obstacles are always going to be there when working with research but learning how to handle and overcome scenarios like this have been life lessons that I have gained due to Dr. Grady’s commitment to providing a supportive environment to grow and learn.”
At UK, faculty mentoring is a valued investment and a key ingredient to students’ success in the relationships formed between faculty and students. The dedication and mastery of these mentors prepare students for the rigors of not just their career fields but how they progress professionally and personally.