A faculty member and a Ph.D. candidate in Notre Dame’s College of Engineering have been honored with College of Engineering Outstanding Research Mentoring Awards for contributions to undergraduate education and research.
The awards were based on nominations from undergraduate students who participated in research for credit within the College of Engineering.
Margaret Coad, assistant professor in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, is the recipient of the Outstanding Research Mentoring Award for faculty. As director of the Innovative Robotics and Interactive Systems (IRIS) Lab, she leads her students in exploring the design, modeling, and control of innovative robotic systems to improve human health, safety, and productivity.
“Professor Coad has been an incredible source of support for my research, graduate school applications, and personal growth. Her dedication to her work and unwavering willingness to help her students make her an exceptional mentor,” said one student.
Daniel Montes-Pinzon, Ph.D. candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, has won the Outstanding Research Mentoring Award for graduate students. Montes-Pinzon works with students in the Hanjaya-Putra Lab, which focuses on molecular and human adult stem cell therapies as an effective method to model and treat diseases. He also works in the Chang Lab which develops low-cost liquid biopsy nanotechnologies for cancer screening and therapy management.
A student who nominated Montes-Pinzon said, “With his encouragement and guidance, I’ve been able to contribute to manuscripts and present my research at numerous conferences. These achievements are directly tied to Daniel’s willingness to answer my questions and provide feedback at any time—no matter how busy he is. His patience and kindness make him approachable and an exceptional teacher.”
Coad and Montes-Pinzon will be formally recognized at the end of the semester.
— Karla Cruise, Notre Dame Engineering; Photo of Margaret Coad by Barbara Johnston, University of Notre Dame; Photo of Daniel Montes-Pinzon by Wes Evard, Notre Dame Engineering