Awards

Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars

For the first time, Texas A&M Postdoctoral Association presented Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars awards to faculty mentors of postdoctoral scholars. Five faculty were presented with awards in this category.

Kyle DeMars

Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering has been nominated by postdoctoral scholar Maaninee Gupta.

Dr. DeMars is immensely dedicated to all his endeavors, and his passion for solving challenging technical problems is inspiring. He meets individually with every member of his team weekly, and demonstrates advocacy, patience, and the ability to encourage those under his supervision. Dr. DeMars is always available as a ‘sounding’ board for testing ideas and fosters a supportive and welcoming environment inside and outside the lab for everyone going on an academic or non-academic path.

Kenneth Hoyt

Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering has been nominated by postdoctoral scholar Sapna Bisht.

Dr Hoyt leads by example, advocating for his postdocs in ways that open unique opportunities. His leadership is rooted in humility, encouragement, and a deep commitment to helping postdocs gain independence. He also supports career-building initiatives such as the Postdoctoral Mentoring Academy, where he celebrated my certificate achievement with as much pride as if it were his own. Dr. Hoyt cultivates an environment where postdocs feel respected, supported, and equipped to grow. He balances structured mentoring with individualized training and support of our everyday life outside the lab. His mentoring ensures that we are developing the skills, experiences, and confidence needed to follow the career path of our choice.

Timothy Phillips

Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences has been nominated by postdoctoral scholar Johnson Oladele.

Dr. Phillips is unique in his ability to tailor his mentorship to the evolving needs of his Postdocs by combining strategic foresight with effective assistance. His leadership nurtures not only our academic growth but has also promoted a comprehensive professional individualized niche, rooted in integrity, independence, and innovation. He embodies the Aggie Core Values, working tirelessly by using his knowledge, skills, and expert guidance to further the professional development of everyone around him.

Julie Schoenung

Professor, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, College of Engineering has been nominated by postdoctoral scholar Sahar Shata.

Dr. Schoenung embodies a compassionate and supportive mentorship philosophy, fostering a collaborative and family-like lab culture. She demonstrates attentiveness to postdocs’ and students’ personal and professional needs, including support on personal issues. She provides constructive feedback and encouragement, motivating us to persevere and view challenges as valuable opportunities for growth. By encouraging kindness among colleagues, Dr. Schoenung has created a sense of belonging that is especially meaningful to me as someone far away from my own family.

Siyu Yu

Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, College of Architecture, has been nominated by postdoctoral scholar Joungwon Kwon.

Dr. Yu is an effective, generous, and caring mentor who makes time to meet with all of her postdocs and students every week, ensuring they receive personalized, one-on-one feedback. She actively advocates for our professional visibility. Dr. Yu provides guidance on how to balance research, teaching, and job applications, which is important to any postdoc. She emphasizes the importance of clarifying long-term career goals, noting that identifying what we want to pursue in the future will help guide each of us toward academic and/or non-academic opportunities.