Leaders in Science Research, Mentoring, and Teaching honored by SACNAS

SACNAS, a national non-profit organization leading the nation in diversifying the scientific workforce for 36 years, announced that three renowned individuals will receive 2009 SACNAS Distinguished Awards. The award commends the individuals for their exemplary scientific achievement, teaching, and mentorship of underrepresented minority students.

The 2009 SACNAS Distinguished Award recipients will be honored for their dedication to fostering the success of Hispanic/Chicano and Native American scientists through their individual contributions to the field of science, teachings and mentoring of underrepresented minority students. The awardees will be acknowledged by SACNAS president J.D. Garcia, PhD, on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the SACNAS National Conference in Dallas, Texas.

2009 SACNAS Distinguished Scientist Award

Jorge Gardea-Torresdey, PhD, is the chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he also teaches and has graduated 18 PhD students, 15 of whom are women and Latino students, as well as mentored 20 MS students. Dr. Gardea-Torresdey has received multiple honors for his research excellence and teaching. Dr. Gardea’s scientific contributions have earned him world-wide recognition as an expert in phytoremediation of heavy metals. Dr. Gardea serves on the Editorial Board of seven important Journals and he is editor of the Journal of Hazardous Materials, which was ranked in 2008 #1 in the field of civil/environmental engineering.

2009 SACNAS Distinguished Undergraduate Institution Mentor Award

Frank T. Bayliss, PhD, has been a professor of biology at San Francisco State University (SFSU) for the past 34 years, dedicating his time to enhancing student’s participation and success in research careers. Dr. Bayliss’ excellence in mentoring will be honored at the White House where he will receive a 2009 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Dr. Bayliss pioneered the first of the research training programs at SFSU targeting minority students which has evolved into the Student Enrichment Opportunities (SEO) in 1992, and since then, established 10 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs at SFSU which support over one hundred students per year in their transition to PhD programs.

2009 SACNAS Distinguished Professional Mentor Award

Maria F. Lima, PhD, a lifetime member of SACNAS, is the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research (SOGSR) at Meharry Medical College (MMC), where she also teaches. Dr. Lima is a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award at MMC, and has received numerous teaching awards. Dr. Lima is a student advocate and her door is always open to listen to students concerns. Under Dr. Lima’s leadership, MMC has graduated the highest number of African-American PhD students in biomedical sciences every year for the past eight years in the U.S. according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Dr. Lima is intimately involved in outreach of minority students, especially at the high school and college levels, who are interested in pursuing a career in science. Her goal is to increase the number of underrepresented students that pursue a career in biomedical research.

Since the SACNAS Distinguished Awards program was initiated in 1997, the society has honored 50 scientists, educators, and program directors for their commitment to and personification of the spirit of the SACNAS mission.

SACNAS was named the “premier organization that promotes diversity in science careers (especially for underrepresented Latinos and Native Americans)” by the National Science Board and was awarded a 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).

The mission of SACNAS is to encourage Chicano/Latino and Native American students to pursue graduate education and obtain the advanced degrees necessary for science research, leadership, and teaching careers at all levels.

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