On May 18, awardees, nominees, and their supporters gathered for the Graduate Division Fellowships and Award Ceremony at the UC Riverside Genomics Building. An Academic Senate committee, Graduate Council, reviewed over 120 nominees. Ultimately, 9 graduate, 2 post-doc, and 3 faculty mentor winners were selected that ranged across multiple disciplines. UCR Provost Elizabeth Watkins and dean of the Graduate Division Shaun Bowler handed recipients their awards at the Friday afternoon ceremony.

STUDENT AWARDS

Students were selected by their programs, then reviewed by faculty across campus. Seventy-one students received awards. Following are the nine competitive awardees, chosen from those nominated across campus.

“All these students are conducting impressive research but importantly can convey the importance of this research to people outside their own discipline. In addition, they contribute to the campus and community in ways that are always harder to quantify but are so important,” said Emma Wilson, associate dean of Graduate Division and professor of biomedical sciences.

Daisy Herrera

•  Pursuing a Ph.D. in history and expected to graduate from UCR in 2027.
•  Herrera will seek a career in public history by developing the first multi-level museum showcasing the history of ethnic Mexicans in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley (SFV). She also seeks to teach at local universities to develop classes and bridge traditional history courses with public history through internships and oral history training practicums. Herrera’s goal is to work for the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Latino as an exhibition contractor/consultant to help recover and reframe histories at the national level.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would return to UCR to pursue a Ph.D. in history, the major I declared for my bachelor’s many moons ago. It's an honor to receive this award as a first-generation student and mother-scholar who works incredibly hard for our SFV to be historically recognized while I set an example of resilience and hard work for the upcoming generations. I am indebted to my wonderful advisors and the various opportunities they have introduced me to since my first year.” - Herrera

 Hillmin (Andy) Lei 

• Pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and expected to graduate from UCR in 2024.
• Lei is pursuing a career in pathophysiology and therapy development, specifically in the field of metabolic disorders. Their goal is to seek postdoctoral positions that will supplement growth as a translational research scientist, especially in institutions including the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. 

“In moments of crisis, panic does nothing. Harness it. Let it serve you.” - Lei

Katherine Vidueira

•  Pursuing a Ph.D. in philosophy and expected to graduate from UCR in 2024.
•  Vidueira aspires to become a professor at a research university or a liberal arts college and would like to continue teaching philosophy to undergraduates to promote critical thinking among the younger generation. She will continue doing research regarding marginalized agents and minority groups since this is an under-explored and underrepresented area of philosophy that needs to be explored further for philosophy to progress. As a part of Vidueira’s research projects, she would like to work together with other disciplines in the future to create an interdisciplinary project regarding the self-conceptions of marginalized agents.

“I truly appreciate being recognized by my department and the University. I am beyond grateful for all the support I’ve received thus far. I am looking forward to continuing my research in this area and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”

Dissertation Year Fellowship Awardees 

Mahdi Qezlou 

• Pursuing a Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy and graduating from UCR in 2024.
• Qezlou’s career goal is to obtain a prestigious postdoctoral position after graduation and then prepare to apply for faculty/staff scientist positions in astrophysics.

“It feels good to see graduate students’ hard work being appreciated at times, hope to see it more often by our beloved university.”

Rana Sharif 

•  Pursuing a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Languages and expected to graduate from UCR in 2024.
•  Sharif intends to pursue a tenure track faculty position at a nationally competitive research university and will work to ensure that students of color, working-class students, women and mothers of color, non-traditional students, and students with different abilities are affirmed and supported institutionally.

"It is truly an honor to be recognized in such a way and to share this space with other folks working on projects with significant intellectual and political contributions. I am humbled by the honor and thankful for the opportunity to share my work.” - Sharif

Pre-Professoriate Fellowship Awardees (HSI)

Christopher Castillo 

• Pursuing a Ph.D. in plant biology and expected to graduate from UCR in 2025.
• Castillo’s career goals include being a faculty member at a community college, obtaining a position as a scientist for a startup company in the field of plant biology or nanotechnology, and doing postdoctoral training at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES).

“The universe communicates and works in mysterious ways. I see this fellowship award as a sign that I am on the right track.” - Castillo

Emily Esposito 

•  Pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology and expected to graduate from UCR in 2024.
•  Esposito plans on doing a two-year post-doctoral fellowship. Her research will focus on LGBTQ+ people, sexual identity, belonging, and perceptions, with specific topics chosen with her new advisor. After the post-doctoral fellowship, Esposito hopes to work at a public, research-focused university where she can conduct research, teach psychology courses, and mentor doctoral students. Esposito would like to have a research lab with undergraduate and graduate students alike, where she can examine how contexts, spaces, and regions impact those who exist in them. Her lab will use a variety of methodologies, levels of analysis, and experimental designs, in line with their training at UCR.

“I am honored to receive this award so that I can pursue research that will broaden my field's knowledge on sexual minority people and help my community.” - Esposito

Brenda Lopez 

• Pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and expected to graduate from UCR in 2024.
• Lopez’s plan after graduation is to explore postdoctoral opportunities or join the public sector/industry to expand her working experience. Her career goal is to return to academia as an educator and teach at a community college or four-year institution and expand her knowledge as a researcher and engineer to connect student learning between theory and practice. Lopez has benefited from support programs such as the STEM Scholars program and the Trio Student Support Services program and wants to build a network that provides opportunities to underrepresented students and encourages higher education.

“I feel honored to have been selected recipient of this award and to be given an opportunity to be amongst many remarkable graduate students.” - Lopez

Roseanne Rosenthal 

•  Pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology and expected to graduate from UCR in 2024.
•  As a Native American scholar, Rosenthal’s main goal is to give back to Native American communities. Utilizing her medical anthropology education, she aims to be employed full-time at a college that serves marginalized populations such as Native American students. Rosenthal plans on developing alternative pedagogical methods for students such as Native American students who have shown success with learning methods closely aligned with their cultural knowledge sharing. She also plans on aiming for a position as an educator at a medical school to help our future doctors understand the importance of acknowledging and accepting different cultural practices that will help aid recovery and healing.

“It doesn’t matter how long your academic journey takes; what matters is that you get there.” - Rosenthal

FACULTY AWARDS

Fifty-two faculty members were nominated by their former and current students and their faculty colleagues and staff. Three received awards for their exceptional dedication to students.

Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award

Professor Theodore Garland, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

Associate Professor Michael Nelson, Department of Philosophy

Commitment to Graduate Diversity Award

Professor Eddie Comeaux, School of Education

Note: Full lists of student awardees and faculty nominees are in the gallery.