{"590957":{"#nid":"590957","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Undergraduate Research Mentor Prize Launched in School of Chemistry and Biochemistry","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAn award to recognize sustained engagement of graduate students and postdoctoral associates as undergraduate research mentors has been established in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The new award is funded by \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.chemistry.gatech.edu\/faculty\/schuster\/\u0022\u003EGary B. Schuster\u003C\/a\u003E and his wife, Anita. Gary Schuster is Vassar Woolley Professor Emeritus and Regents Professor in the College of Sciences. He is the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cos.gatech.edu\/hg\/item\/589937\u0022\u003E2017 recipient of Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s highest faculty honor, the Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor Award\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Undergraduate research is a unique experience that can impact a student\u0026rsquo;s professional growth, career, and personal path. Mentors enable a constructive and positive experience for undergraduate researchers,\u0026rdquo; Schuster says. \u0026ldquo;Anita and I want to incentivize undergraduate research mentorship.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe inaugural winners of the award are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ww2.chemistry.gatech.edu\/barry\/udita-brahmachari\u0022\u003EUdita Brahmachari\u003C\/a\u003E, First Prize, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/david-hanna-4b39a629\/\u0022\u003EDavid A. Hanna\u003C\/a\u003E, Second Prize.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBorn and raised in West Bengal, India, Brahmachari studied chemistry in the Indian Institute of Technology. At Tech, she is a graduate student working with School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ww2.chemistry.gatech.edu\/barry\/bridgette-barry\u0022\u003EBridgette A. Barry\u003C\/a\u003E to understand the dynamics of Photosystem II. She serves as a mentor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/petitinstitute.gatech.edu\/petit-scholars\u0022\u003EPetit Undergraduate Research Scholars Program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAmong Brahmachari\u0026rsquo;s mentees is 2017 Petit Scholar and biochemistry major \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/petitinstitute.gatech.edu\/chiagoziem-chichi-obi\u0022\u003EChiagoziem E. \u0026ldquo;Chichi\u0026rdquo; Obi\u003C\/a\u003E. In the Barry lab, Brahmachari and Obi are working on the project \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/petitinstitute.gatech.edu\/petit-scholars-class-2017\u0022\u003E\u0026ldquo;Role of the Intrinsically Disordered Photosystem II Subunit, PsbO, in Photosystem II.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/a\u003E Another mentee, chemistry major \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sarakonecny\/\u0022\u003ESara E. Konecny\u003C\/a\u003E, also does undergraduate research in the Barry Lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn nominating Brahmachari as the inaugural recipient of the Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, Obi and Konecny emphasize how Brahmachari positively transformed their research experience \u0026ldquo;by being an exceptional scientist and selfless mentor \u0026ndash; always accessible and supportive of all aspects of their lives...a constant inspiration, scientifically and personally.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt has been satisfying and challenging to \u0026ldquo;push\u0026rdquo; Obi and Konecny to try experiments and work independently, Brahmachari says. \u0026ldquo;My mentees are on their way to becoming successful independent researchers. I hope to make a small but significant contribution to the success they are sure to experience in their lives.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHanna is a graduate student working with School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Assistant Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/reddi\/amit%20r.\u0022\u003EAmit R. Reddi\u003C\/a\u003E to develop \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.news.gatech.edu\/2016\/05\/26\/heme-poisonous-nutrient-tracked-green-lantern-sensor\u0022\u003Efluorescent sensors for heme\u003C\/a\u003E. He has served as a mentor for 2016 Petit scholar and biochemistry major \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/petitinstitute.gatech.edu\/rebecca-hu\u0022\u003ERebecca A. Hu\u003C\/a\u003E. Hanna mentored Hu on the project \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/petitinstitute.gatech.edu\/petit-scholars-alumni\u0022\u003E\u0026ldquo;Investigating Heme as a Mitochondrial Retrograde Signal.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/a\u003E Hu has been conducting research with Hanna for five semesters.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn nominating Hanna, Hu notes Hanna\u0026rsquo;s emphasis on critical thinking. In addition, Hu says, \u0026ldquo;David truly cares about me, helping me overcome my limits, growing my strength, and making my research experience fruitful.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;I see mentoring as hard but rewarding work,\u0026rdquo; Hanna says. \u0026ldquo;What makes mentoring so satisfying is when you realize how much your mentee has grown and accomplished, and you notice changes in yourself through the process. Rebecca and I have gotten a lot done and grown as we worked through our research together.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs Schuster notes, mentoring helps not only the mentee but also the mentor: \u0026ldquo;Mentorship promotes self-assessment of the mentor\u0026rsquo;s own academic and professional skills as they pursue their own career goals.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"New award is funded by Anita and Gary Schuster"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAn award to recognize sustained engagement of graduate students and postdoctoral associates as undergraduate research mentors has been established in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The new award is funded by \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.chemistry.gatech.edu\/faculty\/schuster\/\u0022\u003EGary B. Schuster\u003C\/a\u003E and his wife, Anita. Gary Schuster is Vassar Woolley Professor Emeritus and Regents Professor in the College of Sciences. He is the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cos.gatech.edu\/hg\/item\/589937\u0022\u003E2017 recipient of Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s highest faculty honor, the Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor Award\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"An award to recognize sustained engagement of graduate students and postdoctoral associates as undergraduate research mentors has been established in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "}],"uid":"30678","created_gmt":"2017-04-26 13:31:52","changed_gmt":"2017-04-26 14:55:40","author":"A. Maureen Rouhi","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2017-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2017-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"590954":{"id":"590954","type":"image","title":"Gary and Anita Schuster (Photo by Camille Pendley)","body":null,"created":"1493212693","gmt_created":"2017-04-26 13:18:13","changed":"1493212693","gmt_changed":"2017-04-26 13:18:13","alt":"","file":{"fid":"225164","name":"Gary and Anita Schuster.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Gary%20and%20Anita%20Schuster.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Gary%20and%20Anita%20Schuster.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":225553,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Gary%20and%20Anita%20Schuster.jpg?itok=LhuDkdbU"}},"590955":{"id":"590955","type":"image","title":"2017 Petit Scholar Chichi Obi and mentor Udita Brahmachari (IBB Photo)","body":null,"created":"1493212837","gmt_created":"2017-04-26 13:20:37","changed":"1493212850","gmt_changed":"2017-04-26 13:20:50","alt":"Udita Brahmachari, Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences","file":{"fid":"225165","name":"Chiagoziem %22Chichi%22 Obi - Udita Brahmachari.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Chiagoziem%20%2522Chichi%2522%20Obi%20-%20Udita%20Brahmachari.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Chiagoziem%20%2522Chichi%2522%20Obi%20-%20Udita%20Brahmachari.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":283705,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Chiagoziem%20%2522Chichi%2522%20Obi%20-%20Udita%20Brahmachari.jpg?itok=izBnjEOY"}},"590956":{"id":"590956","type":"image","title":"2016 Petit scholar Rebecca Hu and mentor David Hanna (IBB Photo)","body":null,"created":"1493213039","gmt_created":"2017-04-26 13:23:59","changed":"1493213039","gmt_changed":"2017-04-26 13:23:59","alt":"","file":{"fid":"225166","name":"Rebecca Hu.David Hanna.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Rebecca%20Hu.David%20Hanna.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Rebecca%20Hu.David%20Hanna.png","mime":"image\/png","size":529191,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Rebecca%20Hu.David%20Hanna.png?itok=xj9RdlhS"}}},"media_ids":["590954","590955","590956"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.cos.gatech.edu\/hg\/item\/589937","title":"Gary B. Schuster: Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"126571","name":"go-PetitInstitute"},{"id":"174205","name":"Undergraduate Research Mentor Award"},{"id":"2736","name":"Gary Schuster"},{"id":"166928","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"174206","name":"Udita Brahmachari"},{"id":"170326","name":"David Hanna"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA. Maureen Rouhi, Ph.D.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDirector of Communications\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maureen.rouhi@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}