Excellence in Honors Thesis Advising Award

“Jacee encourages me to explore ideas that are uniquely exciting to me. Indeed, Jacee is the kind of mentor who always seems to know precisely the kind of feedback I need. Over winter break, I encountered a roadblock because I could not find a standardized proficiency test for Turkish, which I needed for my experiment. When I emailed Jacee detailing this conundrum, she emailed back 42 minutes later with a Turkish proficiency test used in another study, a reminder that I would have to justify my use of this test, and two examples from previous work about ways in which I might formulate that justification. Jacee possesses a wealth of knowledge, but she encourages me to reach my own answers while, importantly, providing me the tools to do so.”

“David exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding thesis advisor. His mentorship extends far beyond guiding experiments or data analysis – he is deeply invested in helping me understand not just what we do in science, buy why it matters. Whether pushing me to think critically about experimental design or encouraging me to craft a compelling narrative when presenting research, he has helped me grow as both a thinker and communicator. A defining feature of his mentorship is how he teaches the process of becoming a scientist – not just through knowledge, but through habits of mind. His roundtable lab tradition – where all members, including undergraduates – present a figure from their own data or from a paper they read, fosters discussion, community, and intellectual growth.”

“Mark supported me through every stage of the research process, helping me design a thesis project that was feasible, scientifically relevant, and personally meaningful. Mark also enabled my growth by encouraging collaboration with other research groups. Leading by example with infectious enthusiasm and optimism, Mark fosters a supportive and collaborative group culture. I remember him encouraging me to ask at least one question at every group meeting. He is also invested deeply in my professional development. He helped me refine fellowship and graduate school applications and offered valuable guidance during decision-making. I’m grateful for this experience, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”

“Professor Mutlu’s impact goes beyond technical expertise – he consistently emphasized the importance of meaningful research, ethical responsibility, and thoughtful design. His mentorship helped me navigate IRB processes, develop rigorous user studies, and analyze findings in a way that contributes to broader communities. What sets Professor Mutlu apart is his genuine commitment to student growth. He took the time to understand my academic goals and career aspirations, connecting me with opportunities for publication, presentation, and collaboration. Even outside the scope of the thesis, his advice has helped shape my development as a researcher and as a person.”

“It is abundantly clear, from the way she runs our lab as a whole, to the way she interacts with me on eon one, that Jenny is dedicated and passionate about empowering undergraduates in their research endeavors. Not only that, but she truly believes in our ability to conduct research and add substantively to the work happening in our lab. Jenny has always been available to meet with me to discuss any questions that I have and is quick to encourage me when I face conflict or doubt. She expects great things from us as undergraduates, but is always there to work alongside us, whether by editing our writing, listening to our practice presentations, or just checking in on what has been going on in our lives.”