This award recognizes the importance of quality mentoring (science, technical or administrative), which benefits the institution as a whole, its junior members and the mentors themselves.
As of 2019 there will be two awards: i) Scientific mentoring; and ii) Technical/administrative mentoring. Each award recipient will receive a $2,000 cash prize and a certificate. The recipient's name will be engraved on a plaque to be displayed at the Observatory.
Go to the Mentoring Award Committee web site to learn about the committee's charge and see the current membership.
Awardee: Jason Smerdon, Ocean Climate and Physics, LDEO
Awardee: Arlene Fiore, Professor, DEES
Awardee: Robert Newton, Research Scientist, Geochemistry, LDEO.
Awardee: Natalie Boelman, Biology and Paleo Environment and Gisela Winckler, Geochemistry, LDEO.
Awardee: Daniel Osgood, International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI).
Awardee: Bärbel Hönisch, Geochemistry, LDEO.
Awardee: Joerg Schaefer, Geochemistry, LDEO.
2010
I. Selection Criterion
The sole criterion for the award is excellence in mentoring. The following are just some of the qualities that can contribute to good mentoring. A candidate need not have all of these qualities to be considered an excellent mentor.
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provides intellectual leadership, by acting as an advisor or guide in research
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develops an effective environment for research and scholarship
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fosters the development of talents, for example research skills, teaching ability, presentation and writing skills, time management skills or the preparation of grant and fellowship applications
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fosters the development of technical skills and provides crucial support and guidance for acquiring expertise in a specialized research environment, such as the laboratory, in the field, and on research cruises, etc.
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acts as a successful professional role model
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acts as an advocate and guide in administrative matters
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promotes young scientists within the broader research community and helps young scientists develop a network of professional colleagues
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advises young scientists regarding career options, including both academic and alternative career choices, and alerts young scientists to opportunities to enrich their careers
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is supportive on both a professional and personal level
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involves young scientists in the full range of the scientific process, from defining a problem to reporting results.
II. Selection Process
Nominators should submit a letter of nomination (not to exceed 2 pages) describing how the nominee has been instrumental in supporting, encouraging and promoting their professional development. Nominators are encouraged to cite as many specific examples as possible. Renominations are encouraged.
Nominators are encouraged to solicit letters in support of the nomination from individuals who have been directly mentored by the nominee within the last two years. The nominator may also solicit letters of support from persons outside Lamont, who, within the past two years, were mentored by the nominee at Lamont. Letters of support should not exceed 2 pages each. Letters of support containing substantive statements about the nominee's mentoring abilities and style (see section I) will be most helpful to the selection committee. Letters of support are not required for full consideration of a nominee, but will likely strengthen his or her case. Note: In order to protect privacy and confidentiality, individual letters for each nominee must be submitted by the letter writer directly to the committee, and not as part of a larger dossier.
All materials will be confidential. The selection committee will evaluate the submitted letters and provide the Directorate with a recommendation of one individual in each category to receive the award. The top three nominees will be recognized at the award ceremony.
III. Eligibility
Nominees
All members of LDEO, IRI, and CIESIN, with at least 5 years of service (not including time as a graduate student) are eligible for the award. Past recipients of the award are eligible for re-nomination after 5 years.
Nominators
All members of LDEO, IRI, and CIESIN may submit nominations. Nominations may also be submitted by persons outside of these units who were members of these units within the past two years. Further, nominations may be submitted by individuals from related CU departments - e.g., Barnard, APAM, E3B, EEE - if they were mentored by a member of LDEO, IRI, or CIESIN. The nominator must have been directly mentored by the nominee, but the nominee need not be the nominator's principal mentor. Each person may submit one nomination per year. There is no limit on the number of supporting letters an individual may submit.
Letters of nomination and letters of support will be kept on file for at least one year. If re-nominated, letters of support will be reused by default unless withdrawn or replaced by the author. Further, if an individual is re-nominated more than once, the committee will review the three most recent nomination dossiers for that indivdual in the last five years.
Members of the selection committee may not submit nominations or supporting letters and are ineligible for the award during their time of service on the committee.
IV. The Award Selection Committee
The selection committee is composed of 2 members of the LDEO Scientific Staff, 1 Postdoc, 2 Graduate Students, 1 representative from CIESIN, 1 representative from IRI, and recent award recipients from two previous years. To see this year's committee membership and learn more about the committee's charge, go to the Mentoring Award Committee web site.