Nominations
The Office of Undergraduate Research is accepting nominations for the 2027 Distinguished Undergraduate Mentor Award through Sunday, September 20 at 11:59 pm. Eligible students should use this link to nominate their faculty mentor after reading the full eligibility guidelines below.
Eligibility for Nominators
- Current USC undergraduate student on any campus (or within six months post-graduation).
- Engaged in research with nominated faculty mentor for at least one semester through volunteering, academic credit, or grant funding.
Eligibility for Nominees
- Faculty member on any USC campus who is also an undergraduate research mentor.
- Although exceptional mentoring happens at all levels in a research team, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students are not eligible for this award.
- Faculty may only receive this award one time.
- Review the list of prior recipients below.
Awardees
Please join the Office of Research and the Office of Undergraduate Research in congratulating our Distinguished Undergraduate Research Mentor Award recipients.
2026 - Dr. Elizabeth Easley, USC Lancaster
2026 - Dr. Eric LoPresti, USC Columbia
2026- Dr. Joseph McQuail, USC SOM Columbia
2026- Dr. Caryn Outten, USC Columbia
2026- Dr. Patrick Saracino, USC Upstate
2026 - Dr. Toni Torres-McGehee, USC Columbia
2025 - Jie Li, Chemistry and Biochemistry, USC Columbia
2025- Sanela Porća, Economics, USC Aiken
2025- Olja Simoska, Chemistry and Biochemistry, USC Columbia
2025- Kristy Welshhans, Biological Sciences, USC Columbia
2024- Claudia Grillo, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience
2024- Johannes Stratmann, Biological Sciences
2024- Laura Swain, Psychology
2024- Aaron Vannucci, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2023- Brent Klein, Criminology and Criminal Justice
2023- Cynthia Corbett, Biobehavioral Health and Nursing Science
2023- Kara Brown, Leadership, Learning Design, and Inquiry
2023- Meredith DeBoom, Geography
2022 - Carol Boggs, Earth, Ocean and Environment
2022 - Jennifer Grier, Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine Greenville
2022 - Susan Steck, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
2022 - Jason Stewart, Biological Sciences
2021 - Ramy Harik, Mechanical Engineering
2021 - Courtney Monroe, Health Promotion, Education and Behavior
2021 - Melissa Nolan, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
2020 — Jeff Dudycha, Biological Sciences
2020 — Dan Speiser, Biological Sciences
2020 — Brie Turner-McGrievy, Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior
2020 — Susan K. Wood, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience
2019 — Michael Angel, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2019 — Natalia Shustova, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2019 — Deanna Smith, Biological Sciences
2019 — Dawn Wilson-King, Psychology
2018 — Maksymilian Chruszcz, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2018 — Edward D’Antonio, Natural Sciences – USC Beaufort
2018 — Douglas Pittman, Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences
2017 — Jerry Hilbish, Biological Sciences
2017 — Jennifer Pournelle, Earth, Ocean, and Environment
2017 — Sara Schwebel, English Language and Literature
2016 — Michy Kelly, Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience
2016 — Ryan Rykaczewski, Biological Sciences
2016 — David Snyder, History
2015 — Pamela Bowers, Studio Art
2015 — William Jackson, Biology - USC Aiken
2015 — Chuanbing Tang, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2014 — Kate Flory, Psychology
2014 — Daniel Fogerty, Communication Sciences and Disorders
2014 — Doyle Stevick, Educational Leadership and Policies
2013 — John Grady, Sport and Entertainment Management
2013 — Camelia Knapp, Earth and Ocean Sciences
2013 — Joseph Quattro, Biological Sciences/Marine Science
2012 — Norma Frizzell, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience
2012 — Xinyu Huang, Mechanical Engineering
2011 — Edward Callen, Psychology - USC Aiken
2011 — Melissa Moss, Chemical Engineering
2010 — Debra Rae Cohen, English
2010 — David Reisman, Biological Sciences
2009 — Joshua Cooper, Mathematics
2009 — J. Alexander Ogden, Languages, Literature, and Cultures
2008 — Rekha Patel, Biological Sciences
2008 — Benjamin Hankin, Psychology
2007 — Ann Kingsolver, Anthropology
2007 — John Lavigne, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2007 — Stephen Morgan, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2006 — Sandra Kelly, Psychology
2005 — James Coleman, Psychology
2004 — Matthew Kohn, Geological Sciences
2003 — Catherine Murphy, Chemistry and Biochemistry