Every year, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the WashU Postdoc Society give the Outstanding Mentor Awards during the Annual Postdoc Symposium. These awards honor a postdoctoral appointee and a faculty member who serve as mentors with dedication and excellence.

Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award (OPMA)

2023 OPMA Awardees:
Dr. Adelita Mendoza, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Developmental Biology
Dr. Elizabeth Carlen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biology

To submit an OPMA nomination, you must be a WashU student, and your nominee must be a WashU postdoc who is a great mentor. OPMA awardees receive a plaque, courtesy of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and a $500 travel award, sponsored by the WashU Postdoc Society.

Past Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Awardees
2023Dr. Adelita Mendoza, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Developmental Biology
Dr. Elizabeth Carlen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biology
2022Dr. James Stroud, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biology
2020Dr. Francisco Victorino, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Rheumatology
2019Dr. Max Staller, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Genetics

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award (OFMA)

2023 OFMA Awardee:
Dr. Courtney Reichhardt, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Megan T. Baldridge, Associate Professor of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology

To submit a OFMA nomination, you must a be a WashU postdoc, and your nominee must be a WashU faculty member who is a great mentor. OFMA awardees receive a plaque, courtesy of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

Past Outstanding Faculty Mentor Awardees
2023Dr. Courtney Reichhardt, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Megan T. Baldridge, Associate Professor of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology
2022Dr. Alexxai Kravitz, Associate Professor of Psychiatry
2020Dr. Farshid Guilak, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of Research for the Shriners Hospitals for Children
2019Dr. Robert Gereau, Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology
2018Dr. Maria Remedi, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology and Physiology
2017Dr. Clay Semenkovich, Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology and Physiology
2016Dr. Brian Finck, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Nutritional Science
2015Dr. Kelly Monk, Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology
2014Dr. Robert Schreiber, Professor of Pathology and Immunology
2013Dr. Steven Petersen, Professor of Neurology
2012Dr. Tiffany Knight, Associate Professor of Biology
2011Dr. Tammie Benzinger, Assistant Professor of Radiology
2010Dr. Erik Herzog, Associate Professor, Biology
2009Dr. Craig Coopersmith, Associate Professor of Surgery
2008Dr. Aaron DiAntonio, Associate Professor of Developmental Biology
2007Dr. Karen O’Malley, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
2006Dr. Robert Mecham, Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology and Physiology
2005Dr. Linda Cottler, Professor of Psychiatry

Lifetime Achievement Award

2022 Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awardee:
Dr. John Russell, Emeritus Professor of Developmental Biology

In 2022, we presented the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. John Russell, Emeritus Professor of Developmental Biology. Dr. Russell has dedicated more than 20 years of service to the WashU postdoctoral community. His mentorship, advocacy, support, and dedication has been integral for the growth of the scientific researchers and society leaders who are former WashU postdoctoral appointees. His commitment and service is an inspiration to us all.