Michael Dickey Outstanding Research Mentor Award
This award recognizes a faculty mentor who has demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate researchers. The award was first given in 2020 to Dr. Michael Dickey, Alcoa Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The recipient is announced in late spring/early summer.
Nominate Your Faculty Research Mentor
Nomination Criteria
Undergraduate nominators will be asked to describe how their faculty research mentor contributes to each of the following key attributes of an outstanding undergraduate research mentor.
Serves as a Guide
Guides students in their research/creative projects, helping them to move from directed toward independent work. Supports students by being available, attentive, encouraging, and understanding.
Creates Opportunities
Creates opportunities for students to develop advanced technical and soft skills. Helps students connect the research and creative inquiry process to real-world challenges.
Encourages Communication
Assists students with sharing their research publicly though presentations, demonstrations, performances, and/or publications.
Supports Student Belonging
Creates a research environment that supports the development of students and their sense of belonging within the discipline.
Offers Academic & Career Advice
Offers guidance on academic goals and career plans, including assistance with prestigious fellowships and/or graduate programs.
Nominator Eligibility
- Must be an NC State-enrolled undergraduate student.
- Must have conducted research with the mentor being nominated for a least one semester.
Nominee Eligibility
- Must be an NC State-employed faculty member.
- Must have mentored undergraduate students in research for at least one year.
- Must not have previously received this award.
2025 Award Winner
Dr. Whitney Knollenberg
Past Recipients
- 2024 – Dr. Praveen Kolar
- 2023 – Dr. Jacqueline Cole
- 2022 – Dr. Carlos Goller
- 2021 – Dr. Tom Parker
- 2020 – Dr. Michael Dickey