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Outstanding Postdoc Mentors of the Year

The Outstanding Postdoc Mentor of the Year Award honors exceptional faculty mentors who actively engage with postdocs. Massimo Ruzzene, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of the Institutes, presented these awards.

This year's recipients are:

• Cinnamon Bidwell (Psychology/Neuroscience)��
  Cinnamon was nominated by Katie Paulich and Jonathon Lisano, who described her as “the pinnacle of a capable, compassionate and creative leader who comports herself with utmost professionalism.” As the leader of a lab with nearly 30 researchers, Cinnamon's commitment to supporting postdocs is particularly evident through her instrumental mentorship in guiding them through the complex process of seeking NIH-funded K and R grants.
• Nathalie Vriend (Mechanical Engineering)
  Nathalie was nominated by Krishnaroop Chaudhuri and Brandon Hayes, describing her as “an unparalleled mentor who not only guides research but also creates a profoundly supportive environment” for postdocs in her lab. Dr. Hayes further highlighted Nathalie's dedication to career development, specifically praising your advocacy of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and her regular meetings with trainees to refine professional goals.

OPA congratulates the award recipients and expresses gratitude to the faculty judges for their time and expertise. This year’s selection process involved many outstanding nominations, which is why OPA is pleased to also recognize Daniel Gustavson (Psychology and Neuroscience; Institute for Behavioral Genetics) with an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Postdoc Mentor.

Outstanding Postdocs of the Year

The highly competitive Outstanding Postdoc of the Year Awards recognize 51�Թ��� postdocs who excel in research productivity, innovation, communication, leadership and advocacy.

This year’s recipients are:

• Gina Calabrese (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology)��
  Gina was nominated by Dr. Rebecca Safran, who described her as “an incredible scientist, mentor, collaborator, educator and leader … wicked smart, highly dedicated, and collaborative.” Dr. Safran praised not only Gina's creativity and independence as a researcher but also her genuine passion for mentorship and her ability to balance the demands of career and family life while excelling in both.
• Deirdre Logsdon (Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology)
  Deirdre was nominated by Dr. Justin Brumbaugh, who described her as a standout scientist, fearless learner and natural leader whose contributions to both research and lab culture are “irreplaceable.” He commended her impactful work on Down syndrome, her success in securing competitive fellowships and grants, and her steadfast commitment to mentoring and advocating for underrepresented students in science.
• Jiarui Song (Biochemistry; BioFrontiers)
• Jiarui was nominated by Dr. Thomas Cech, who praised Jiarui as a creative and rigorous scientist, a dedicated mentor and a thoughtful leader. He highlighted his achievement in solving the long-sought structure of the PRC2-RNA complex—published in Science—and described how his work revealed the molecular basis for RNA regulation of PRC2. He also commended his scientific independence, interdisciplinary approach, and strong commitment to mentorship and outreach.
• Aaron Allred (Aerospace Engineering)��
  Aaron was nominated by Drs. Torin Clark and Allison Hayman, who described him as a driven, creative, and compassionate researcher and mentor. They lauded his productivity, surpassing faculty-level publishing expectations, and his thoughtful mentorship of graduate students while cultivating a collaborative and inclusive lab culture. Notably, Aaron stepped into a leadership role during a faculty sabbatical, organizing research meetings and professional development activities—while continuing to drive innovative research that is expanding the lab's direction and impact.

OPA extends its congratulations to these award recipients and expresses gratitude to the faculty members who served as judges. Additionally, we are pleased to recognize the following Honorable Mentions for Outstanding Postdocs:

• Edgart Flores (INSTAAR)
• Grace Bennett-Pierre (CIRES)
• Krishnaroop Chaudhuri (Mechanical Engineering)
• Ambra Coccaro (Institute of Cognitive Science)
• Mélanie Henry (Integrative Physiology)
• Siamak Mirfendereski (Chemical & Biological Engineering)��

Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellows

As part of this year’s celebrations, 51�Թ��� recognized the 2025–2026 Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellows, honoring two outstanding scholars whose work exemplifies academic excellence and inclusive impact.

Umniya Najaer (Ethnic Studies) was selected for her scholarship on Black worldbuilding and narrative theory, while Daphna Raz (Computer Science) was recognized for her interdisciplinary research in biomechanics and robotics, advancing smart prostheses and rehabilitation technologies.

The fellowship provides dedicated research time and mentorship to support each fellow’s path toward a tenure-track career and deeper engagement with 51�Թ���'s scholarly community. Nominations are open for the 2026-2027 cycle and due November 3.

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Postdoctoral Association of Colorado (PAC) 51�Թ���

PAC 51�Թ���, the volunteer organization of postdocs on campus, also recognized recent winners of its award programs.��PAC President George Tseropoulos highlighted the group’s mission to foster a sense of community by offering social activities for postdocs and their families. The recipients of PAC’s Travel Award and Research/Outreach Award programs were celebrated and are listed below.

• Brandon Hayes, 2nd place PAC fall travel award
• Manuela Garay-Sarmiento, 2nd place PAC spring travel award
• Melanie Henry, PAC research award

National Postdoc Appreciation Week serves as a reminder of the critical role postdoctoral scholars and their mentors play in the university’s success. Celebrations like these reinforce 51�Թ���’s commitment to fostering a culture of recognition and support, ensuring that postdocs feel valued, empowered, and inspired as they drive innovation and advance scholarship.