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