-Magdalen Lindeberg
The School of Integrative Plant Science is pleased to announce that Kevin Ahern, PhD student in the Field of Plant Breeding, has been awarded the Sellew Family Excellence-in-Mentoring Fellowship for 2021. Working in the program of Georg Jander, Ahern’s dissertation research is focused on characterizing the genetics of benzoxazinoid production in maize and how these small molecules protect plants from a wide variety of insect pests. Students who have worked with him cite his patient and thoughtful mentorship, encompassing experimental methods, experimental design, and skills for professional development.
The Sellew Family Excellence-in-Mentoring Fellowship is supported by a current use fund of $50,000 from Mark ‘78 and Lisa ‘79 Sellew and was created to highlight the valuable role that graduate students play in contributing to the educational experience of Cornell undergraduates.
Serena Lotreck, now a PhD student in the Plant Sciences at Michigan State, commented on Aherns’ gift for sensing mentees’ needs and strengths. “When I first came to the lab he was very hands-on. Eventually as I became more independent, he would wait for me to come to him with questions as he could tell that I had grasped the techniques and just needed to do work on my own terms. As a current graduate student, I can say that this is an incredibly valuable skill that most mentors do not possess”. A current mentee, Abby Kelly, echoed similar appreciation for his flexible style adding that he had encouraged her to attend seminars on research and professional development as well as assisting with presentation of research results.
The Sellew Family Excellence-in-Mentoring Fellowship is awarded to a student in a different SIPS graduate field for each of five years. Grant Thompson in the Field of Horticulture, Mike Fulcher in the Field of Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology, Mia Howard in the Field of Plant Biology, and Olenka Zavodna in the Field of Soil & Crop Sciences were award recipients for 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2021, respectively. Last year the fellowship term shifted from Fall-Spring to Spring-Fall owing to COVID-related disruptions.