Postdoc Society names 2017 Outstanding Mentor and Outstanding Postdoc awardees

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Postdoc Society is pleased to announce this year's recipients of the Outstanding Postdoc Mentor and Outstanding Postdoc awards. 

Suvrath Mahadevan has been named the 2017 Outstanding Postdoc Mentor for his exceptional dedication to the mentoring of postdoctoral scholars in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Mahadevan was nominated by multiple postdoctoral scholars for his exceptional availability and responsiveness, ability and willingness to provide recognition to his students for their work, and his commitment to providing priority to professional development opportunities and exposure to new skills and knowledge.

PSPS also recognized F. Joseph Pollock with the 2017 Outstanding Postdoc Award. Pollock was nominated by his faculty mentor, Monica Medina, for his outstanding contribution to research, teaching and service while in the Department of Biology. Pollock's exceptional achievements include not only an impressive publication record and grant writing leading to international multi-laboratory projects, but also a record of teaching and mentoring several undergraduate and graduate students and founding an international program for high school students interested in marine science. 

This year, PSPS awards committee received 26 nominations for the Outstanding Postdoc award and it was a challenge to determine the recipient of this award as all nominations were outstanding. The Penn State Postdoc society commends all the applicants for their achievements and encourages submission of applications again next year.

Mahadevan and Pollock will receive a plaque acknowledging this honor in a ceremony at the 10th Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition on Friday, Sept. 22.

The awards ceremony is open to postdocs, research associates, faculty, staff and students and will take place at 4:15 p.m. in Heritage Hall, in the HUB-Robeson Center.

More details about the Tenth Annual Postdoc Research Exhibition, jointly organized by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Penn State Postdoc Society, can be obtained at www.research.psu.edu/opa and by contacting postdocaffairs@psu.edu. Further details on activities of Penn State Postdoc Society, and information on current and past winners of PSPS Outstanding Postdoc and Faculty Mentor Awards can be found at http://www.psupostdoc.org.