InnovATEBIO member Rob Hatherill receives U.S. presidential award for excellence in science mentoring

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Author:

Sandra Porter

Tuesday, August 18 2020

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Awards

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Del Mar College

I first met Rob in Berkeley at one of the Bio-Link Summer Fellows Forums. Over the years, Rob has impressed me with his incredible focus on student achievement. So, it came as no surprise to learn that Rob has been awarded the Presidential Award in Excellence in Science Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).

The award recognizes the critical role Hatherill plays as “a mentor outside the traditional classroom setting in the academic and professional development of the future STEM workforce.” Texas is one of only 13 states with recipients in this award category, and Hatherill is one of two representing Texas with the other recipient from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

- Viking News

I'm sure Rob will enjoy adding this new award to the many others his students have received.

Ribbons won by Del Mar students in scientific competitions

To quote the Viking News article:

His innovative approach to providing hands-on research experiences led Del Mar College to become one of the first community colleges accepted into the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters (SEA PHAGES) program. DMC students began conducting biotechnology laboratory work on campus as part of this pioneering research project for undergraduate students.

The DMC Phage Hunters program was established as a one-year research-mentoring course that develops concepts and techniques from multiple disciplines across biology, such as molecular biology, electron microscopy, microbiology and bioinformatics. Students conduct authentic research, which is embedded into their coursework.

The Medical Institute’s SEA PHAGES program allows the College’s students to contribute to a real scientific database, too. They present real scientific data and publish abstracts and papers just as graduate students do at top tier universities. The program allows DMC students to experience the real culture of discovery-based research and the actual collaborative nature of science.