Recipient Selected for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Award

Jonathan Lifshitz, PhD, was selected as the inaugural recipient of the annual University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award. The award is designed to recognize a full-time faculty member who goes above and beyond in mentoring graduate students.

“I am honored to earn this award, because I am grateful to my mentors for the time and energy they devote to raise me as an academic scientist,” said Dr. Lifshitz, who is Director of the Translational Neurotrauma Research Program. “The best way to pay it forward is to devote time and energy to one’s students and trainees. This award recognizes the commitment to train subsequent generations of scientists in the conduct, responsibility, rigor and impact of biomedical research.”

To be selected for this award, a graduate student must first nominate their mentor who must be a University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix faculty member affiliated with the University of Arizona Clinical Translational Sciences (CTS) Graduate Program, the Arizona State University Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program or the Arizona State University Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience.

Dr. Lifshitz was announced as the recipient of the award by Rayna Gonzales, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, at the All Campus Meeting on Oct. 30. This endowed award was made possible through the generosity of Ronald Hammer, PhD, professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, and his wife, Sandra Jacobson, MD.

“I was nervous and excited for the announcement of the winner,” Dr. Lifshitz said. “My trainees told me about the nomination, but we knew nothing of the selection. Hearing their words spoken by the committee chair, Dr. Gonzales, filled me with pride and contentment knowing that I have positively impacted their lives.”

The award committee received numerous nominations, but decided Dr. Lifshitz stood out among his faculty peers because of the remarks provided by his graduate student, Katherine Giordano, a doctoral candidate in the U of A CTS program, and Mitchell Shub, MD, chair of the Department of Child Health at the college.

Giordano wrote, “Early on, I came to understand that Dr. Lifshitz is genuinely interested in helping people achieve their career goals. In my case, we discussed my short-term goal of going to graduate school and my long-term goal of becoming an independent academic researcher.”

Dr. Shub added, “Over the years, Dr. Lifshitz has successfully mentored numerous graduate students, many of whom have gone on to highly successful academic careers. He has freely shared skills, knowledge, and expertise with students, regularly meets with students, stays current on their academic progress and sets appropriate goals that are uniquely tailored for each student. He fosters an environment that encourages independence for students to learn, understand and implement their research. Most of all, his mentees universally acknowledge that he is an outstanding role model that each hopes to emulate in their own careers.”

Dr. Lifshitz has directly supervised six doctoral students. Mentees in his lab have been recognized nationally, including as National Institutes of Health (NIH) F31 National Research Service Award fellowship awardees, and internationally as young investigators of the year.

“On a day to day basis, measuring the impact of mentoring is difficult,” Dr. Lifshitz said. “We can see how each trainee learns more, becomes independent and leads others. This award is tangible recognition that all the hours, conversations, guidance, advice and care make an impact. I am grateful to my current trainees for nominating me, my past trainees for appreciating the guidance and the college for prioritizing mentorship.”