College recognizes graduate mentoring excellence

The College of Engineering recognized 25 faculty, postdocs and graduate student mentors at the second annual Graduate Student Mentoring Awards reception on May 14, 2026. The awards recognize faculty, postdocs and graduate students who make outstanding contributions to mentoring students or peers and cultivate a sense of belonging in and outside of the lab. The College of Engineering’s Graduate Student Advisory Council, which is composed of graduate students from across the engineering campus, sponsored the awards.

This year, the awards recognized five faculty members, six postdocs and 14 graduate students.

Faculty Awards for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring

Legacy Award
Mead Witter Foundation Professor of Mechanical Engineering Krishnan Suresh
Notes colleague Darryl Thelen, Bernard A. and Frances M. Weideman Professor and John Bollinger Chair of mechanical engineering: “Professor Suresh’s dedication to mentorship is reflected not only in the accomplishments of his students but also in his sustained contributions to graduate education through course development, outreach initiatives, and leadership within the department and professional community. He exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding mentor: thoughtful, inclusive, responsive, and committed to continuous growth. His mentorship has profoundly shaped the careers and personal development of countless graduate students, many of whom carry forward his collaborative and supportive approach in their own work.”

Associate Professor
Bernard A. and Frances M. Weideman Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Ramathasan Thevamaran
Notes colleague Darryl Thelen, Bernard A. and Frances M. Weideman Professor and John Bollinger Chair of mechanical engineering: “Professor Thevamaran amplifies his students’ visibility and leadership. He entrusts them to lead collaborations and national laboratories, represent the lab during visits from external stakeholders, and serve in leadership roles within graduate organizations. His encouragement led to the foundation and growth of the Graduate Engineering Mechanics Society, which now hosts student-run seminars and a Three-Minute Thesis competition that strengthens community across the college. These initiatives reflect his belief that mentorship includes building ecosystems in which students can thrive collectively.”

Assistant Professor
Biomedical Engineering Assistant Professor Colleen Witzenburg
Note colleagues Paul Campagnola, professor and Peter Tong Chair of biomedical engineering; and Megan McClean, associate professor and associate chair of graduate education in biomedical engineering: “Professor Witzenberg joined our faculty in 2019. Since that time, she has distinguished herself not only as a world-class researcher, but as a mentor who approaches mentorship with the same level of rigor and innovation as her cardiovascular biomechanics research. Her approach is characterized by a rare blend of intentionality, inclusivity and unwavering commitment to the holistic well-being of her students. She uses evidence-based mentoring practices in combination with her basic human decency to create a lab environment that is intellectually rigorous yet psychologically safe—a place where students can celebrate a successful PhD defense with cheese curds and a Spotted Cow at the Memorial Union, knowing they have a mentor for life.”

Honorable Mention – Excellence in Department Success Support
Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professor Dominic Gross
Notes colleague Susan Hagness, Philip D. Reed Professor, Maria Stuchly Professor and chair of electrical and computer engineering: “In 2023, Professor Gross stepped up to take on the leadership of chairing the ECE Graduate Recruiting, Admissions and Fellowships Committee. This leadership role requires coordinating with faculty across our eight research areas in evaluating more than 1,100 applications each year. Our department’s yield on PhD admission offers increased by nearly 10 percentage points and the fellowship acceptance rate doubled since he took on the committee chair role. Professor Gross has expertly juggled this important role in support of our entire graduate student research training mission while continuing to grow his research program, investing in the progress and wellbeing of his PhD students, and sustaining his excellence as a teacher and mentor.”

Honorable Mention – Excellence in Collaborative Support
Soil and Environmental Sciences Assistant Professor Inna Popova
Notes Kendra Saunders, environmental chemistry and technology master’s student, 2023-25: “I came in with no undergraduate research experience and was heavily intimidated by the lab setting. From the beginning, Dr. Popova cultivated an atmosphere incredibly conducive to learning. She always took the time to train me on a new instrument or go over new methodology, and I was never expected to perform tasks I was not equipped for. At the same time, I was given space to figure things out on my own, which was instrumental in developing the ability to think for myself. If I made a mistake or didn’t know how to proceed, it was never negative, but an opportunity to learn. Dr. Popova grants this attention to all of her students and encourages them to work together in collaboration, new learning and troubleshooting. In this, she creates an incredibly healthy, low-stress, productive lab environment that has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of.”

Awards for Post-Doctorate Mentoring and Service

Winner
Samir Rosas, Biomedical Engineering
Notes Feliz Yesilkoy, Vilas and Grainger Assistant Professor of biomedical engineering: “Samir’s mentoring contributions have been extraordinary in both scale and depth. Since he was the first senior trainee in the group, he has directly mentored more than 15 individuals across multiple levels, including junior PhD students, newly joined postdoctoral researchers, undergraduate researchers and visiting scholars. His mentoring style is distinguished by patience, technical rigor and an unusual ability to recognize the individual needs of each trainee. Rather than applying a uniform mentoring approach, he adapts his guidance according to each person’s academic preparation, communication style and confidence level, which has made him especially effective in helping students who initially struggle.”

Runner-up
Michael Zepp, Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics
Notes Benedikt Geiger, associate professor of nuclear engineering and engineering physics: “Michael supports students while also patiently giving them the freedom to develop their own ideas and concepts. This ability to both guide and empower students is truly exceptional and distinguishes him from many other postdoctoral researchers and scientists I have mentored over the years. He is an outstanding researcher with tremendous potential, and I am confident he possesses all the qualities needed to become an excellent faculty member at a university or college.”

Honorable Mention
Yasara Dharmadasa, Mechanical Engineering
Notes Ramathasan Thevamaran, Bernard A. and Frances M. Weideman Associate Professor of mechanical engineering: “Yasara embodies the qualities of an exemplary mentor and is also demonstrating a strong aptitude for teaching. He doesn’t just guide his mentees through research projects; he actively invested in their development as independent researchers and professionals. What sets Yasara apart is his critical approach to mentoring. We have engaged in numerous thoughtful conversations about the diverse challenges students face in their research and skill development. He deeply considers how to best support each individual, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective.”

Honorable Mention
Subhamoy Mahanjan, Mechanical Engineering
Notes Ying Li, associate professor of mechanical engineering: Dr. Mahajan exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding mentor: dedication to student development, initiative in creating research opportunities, and leadership within the research community. His mentorship has had a meaningful impact on the students he works with and has strengthened the culture of mentorship within our group.

Honorable Mention
Vignesh Selvaraj, Mechanical Engineering
Notes Sangkee Min, Grainger Institute for Engineering Faculty Scholar and associate professor of mechanical engineering: “Vignesh is approachable, patient and highly responsive to students’ needs. He creates an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring ideas, while still maintaining high expectations for technical rigor and accountability. In my experience, the most valuable mentors are those who amplify the capabilities of others, not just their own work. Vignesh embodies this principle. His influence can be seen not only in his own accomplishments but in the growth and success of the students he has mentored and the educational structures he helped build.”

Awards for Graduate Student Mentorship and Service

Excellence in Research Leadership
Zilin Huang, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Notes Sikai Chen, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering: “He has a rare gift for identifying a student’s potential before they see it themselves. Time and again, I have watched him pull up a chair next to a frustrated junior student, conceptually break down a massive technical barrier, and build them back up. He creates a deeply inclusive environment where making mistakes is viewed as a necessary step in the research process, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their starting point, feels valued and capable.”

Excellence in Mentorship Through Teaching
Eric Kastelic, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Notes Alison Mikulyuk, director of Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program: “Eric has a consistent track record of successful outcomes for undergraduates from a variety of backgrounds. His mentees have presented at professional conferences, published their work and gained admission to graduate and professional schools. He maintains mentorship after students move on, keeping in touch and supporting them throughout their careers. He gives students autonomy and supports them in asking and exploring new questions, fostering an environment of curiosity and innovation. Self-learning and self-directed inquiry is one of the most important lessons an aspiring graduate student can learn, and Eric helps students develop these abilities with unwavering support.”

Excellence in Peer Professional Development
Hangyu Li, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Notes Xiaopeng Li, Harvey D. Spangler Professor of civil and environmental engineering: “Hangyu’s mentoring philosophy emphasizes intentional, inclusive and evolving support for students’ academic and professional development. Using the lab’s facilities and research platforms, he designs independent yet complete projects that allow mentees to take ownership of their work while engaging in meaningful research activities. He works closely with each student through regular meetings, hands-on technical guidance, field tests and open communication to develop personalized and adaptive mentoring plans aligned with their interests, career goals and well-being. Many students have reported increased confidence, motivation and clarity in their academic goals through this experience.”

Excellence in Undergraduate Student Support
Ali Milani, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Notes Christina Remucal, professor of civil and environmental engineering: Ali consistently provides meaningful experiences for mentees in a highly inclusive environment and is committed to supporting their professional development in addition to advancing her own research. The active involvement of her mentees in research means that many of these students have generated their own data or analyses that result in their inclusion as authors on pending publications. Importantly, Ali has provided research experiences that both leverage the strengths and interests of the undergraduates and also support her own research.”

Excellence in Inclusive Community Building
Sarah Noga, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Notes Quentin Dudley, Hunt-Hougen Assistant Professor of chemical and biological engineering: “Despite the many demands on her time, Sarah is a patient, engaged and enthusiastic mentor. She has supervised more than 10 undergraduate poster presentations, and consistently provides supportive and insightful guidance to her mentees. Though I check in frequently with both undergraduate and graduate researchers in my group on scientific ideas and directions, I frequently tell them to ‘ask Sarah about that question when you are next in the lab’ for hands-on advice and further details.”

Excellence in Department Support
Anna Tommasi, Biomedical Engineering
Notes Krishanu Saha, professor of biomedical engineering: “Anna’s commitment to service was evident long before she arrived at UW-Madison. As an undergraduate, her mentors observed her sacrificing seven consecutive Saturdays to lead high school students through engineering experiments—a rare level of dedication for a student of her age. When she first contacted me in 2021, I was immediately struck by her uncommon initiative and her clear vision for bridging the gap between engineering and clinical therapy. Since joining my lab, she has intentionally built cross-disciplinary expertise in genomics, stem cell bioengineering, and immunology, transforming herself into a versatile resource for every student she encounters.”

Honorable Mention
Saleh Alshammari, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Notes Hannah Blum, Alain H. Peyrot associate professor of civil and environmental engineering: Saleh cultivates a supportive research environment and assists his peers with a positive attitude. He is generous with his time and will help not only those with similar projects (large scale experiments) but those working on computational modeling. He is consistently present in the lab to help set up others’ experiments. In team research meetings, he consistently contributes to the discussions on all projects, often providing exceptional feedback, and presenting thoughts and views that others have not considered. When needed, he’s stepped in to lead group meetings to ensure that all students and projects are getting team feedback.

Honorable Mention
Katrina Falk, Biomedical Engineering
Notes Michael Spediel, associate professor and interim chair of medical physics and medicine: “As department chair, I am asked to evaluate many learners across medical physics and affiliated programs. Katrina stands out for a combination of traits that is genuinely rare. She is scientifically creative, intellectually generous and deeply committed to the people she works with. She creates an environment where junior trainees feel able to ask questions, make mistakes safely and grow into confident, independent researchers. These characteristics align directly with the College of Engineering’s expectations for outstanding mentoring and service at the trainee level.”

Honorable Mention
Matthew Grondin, Mechanical Engineering
Notes Kate Fu, associate professor of mechanical engineering: “Matthew is deeply committed to supporting students who may not always see themselves supported or validated in engineering spaces. He strives to be a reliable presence during difficult academic and personal moments. He understands that effective mentorship requires flexibility, empathy and high expectations tailored to the individual.”

Honorable Mention
Mahmudul Hassan, Mechanical Engineering
Notes Frank Pfefferkorn, professor of mechanical engineering: “Over the course of his PhD, Mahmudul has gladly mentored undergraduate researchers in my lab. He helped identify students who were motivated to learn, took the time to understand their backgrounds and goals, and designed experiences that were educational as well as operationally convenient. I have observed that Mahmudul treats a mentee’s development as a real responsibility. He is available when they need him, honest when they make mistakes and careful not to come across as patronizing.”

Honorable Mention
Sam Johnstone, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Notes Matthew Gebbie, Conway Assistant Professor of chemical and biological engineering: “Sam has excelled as a mentor for five undergraduate researchers over seven semesters and two summers of active engagement, which is a remarkable achievement for a student at his career stage. Sam has been active in mentoring numerous newer graduate students within my lab, spanning both his project area as well as other domains in my lab. Sam’s mentees have uniformly expressed enthusiasm and appreciation for his efforts as a mentor, and his trainees are successfully navigating their postgraduate career trajectory, including a mentee who has earned admission into top PhD programs for the fall 2026 cycle.”

Honorable Mention
Christian Jorgensen, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Notes Rose Cersonsky, Conway AssistantPprofessor of chemical and biological engineering: “Christian sets a standard for inclusivity that elevates our entire lab. He frequently invites his mentees to meetings with me, even when they have no formal update, because he believes that participation is essential to learning. In these meetings, he actively facilitates their involvement, ensuring they have opportunities to ask questions, contribute insights and understand the broader scientific context. When students face challenges, Christian responds with exceptional sensitivity and flexibility. His emotional intelligence is rare even among experienced faculty, and seeing it so naturally in a graduate student is genuinely remarkable.”

Honorable Mention
Shengdong Liu, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Notes Haoran Wei, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering: “Shengdong is a remarkably thoughtful, patient and effective mentor. He is especially skilled at designing projects and responsibilities that match each student’s level of experience, allowing newer students to build confidence while giving more advanced students opportunities to develop independence and understanding. He is generous with his time, never dismissive of questions and consistently creates an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and learning through the research process.”

Honorable Mention
Yun Su, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Notes Brian Pfleger, Karen and William Monfre Professor, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor, and chair of chemical and biological engineering: “Yun has mentored several undergraduates who had zero biological engineering experience when they began and have since developed into promising bioengineers. Yun has also helped my lab develop a metabolic engineering outreach activity using a Plinko board to teach visitors to the Engineering Expo in 2023. She has coordinated lab meetings and the distribution of lab jobs, and helped maintain a healthy culture in my group. In short, Yun is an outstanding graduate student who has made many contributions outside of her specific thesis work.”

Featured image caption: Graduate student mentoring award winners (from left) Hangyu Li, Shengdong Liu, Inna Popova Saleh Alshammari, Eric Kastelic and Zilin Huang stand with Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Chair Greg Harrington (center) at an awards reception. The College of Engineering recognized 25 faculty, post-doc and graduate student mentors who have made significant contributions to mentoring students or peers. Submitted photo.

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