Dr. Karen Mohlke (Professor and Associate Chair for Research, Department of Genetics) has been recognized by the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) with one of this year’s Awards for Excellence in Basic Science Mentoring.
Each year the OGE recognizes faculty mentors affiliated with the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP) who embody innovative and student-centered training. As part of the nomination process, letters of support were provided by trainees, alums, and faculty. Select quotes from her nomination include: “Karen also fostered a sense of community, belonging, and teamwork within the lab. She valued diversity and promoted an inclusive lab environment by being respectful of others’ ideas and opinions. When interviewing candidates for open positions in the lab for example, she would always ask all lab members for our feedback on the candidate.” “Karen leads by example and takes an interest in lab members’ lives. She asks how you are doing, how things are outside of the lab, and takes an interest in your hobbies. Graduate school is extremely taxing, but Karen never added to the pressure and always made sure her trainees are mentally healthy.” “Dr. Mohlke’s mentoring philosophy is such that her expectations develop along with her trainees, meaning her expectations are not the same for a 1st-year student as they are for a 4th-year student.”