Christopher Gisriel and Judith Simcox, both professors in the Department of Biochemistry, were awarded the Distinguished Faculty and Staff Postdoc Mentoring Award from the UW–Madison Postdoctoral Association. The award is given annually to recognize faculty and staff that contribute their time, knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm to mentoring postdocs in their labs. Faculty can be nominated by current or former postdocs.
“Mentoring is a great joy and a challenge. Each individual has distinct needs” says Simcox. “Since the nomination for this award came from postdocs in my lab, it’s a reminder that all the early mornings and long days to support my trainees are recognized and valued.”
“What an honor it is to receive recognition for mentorship from postdocs,” says Gisriel, who joined the faculty last summer. “I was a postdoc myself not long ago, so I know all too well that it is a pivotal time in the life of a scientist, both professionally and personally. As a new laboratory, we rely heavily on the work of our postdocs, so, really, this award should go to them.”
Lauren W. Yowelunh McLester-Davis, a researcher in the Simcox Lab and the Gleason Lab in the School of Medicine and Public Health, and Jericha Mill, a researcher in the Simcox Lab, were also recognized by the Postdoctoral Association with Postdoc Excellence Awards for service and teaching, respectively. “Their impact on this campus through the classes they teach and the projects they lead makes me realize the true power of mentorship: each person you mentor has the ability to transform the world through their discoveries, good work, and teaching. It’s such a unique privilege,” says Simcox.
The awardees were honored at the association’s Celebration of Postdoc Excellence on May 16, 2025. All of the Postdoc Excellence Award recipients can be viewed here.