In the laboratories, offices and hallways of Scripps Research, extraordinary mentoring happens every day. Woven into the fabric of the institute is a shared desire to pass on knowledge, skills and an abiding conviction that anything worth pursuing can be achieved. While this spirit is always present, each January the institute celebrates Mentorship Month by highlighting some of the most effective mentors.
For more than a decade, Scripps Research has honored a faculty member with the Outstanding Mentor Award (OMA), based on nominations from students and postdocs across campus. More recently, a second award was created—the Award for Trainee Mentorship—recognizing outstanding mentoring by a graduate student or postdoc, based on nominations from fellow students and trainees.
Professor Luke Wiseman kicked off this year’s awards ceremony by reading the names of the 11 postdocs and graduate students nominated for the Award for Trainee Mentorship. With great enthusiasm and a hint of personal pride, he announced that Alexandra “Alex” Salazar, a graduate student jointly mentored by Wiseman and Professor Gabriel Lander, was the recipient of the 2025 Award for Trainee Mentorship.
“Alex has been my closest mentor for the past two years, and her mentorship has been foundational to my development as a scientist,” said Cecilia Marie Aban, a research intern who nominated Salazar for the award. “As a champion EM (electron microscopy) instructor, her teaching promotes fearless experimentation and collaboration across the Wiseman and Lander labs, shaping their mentorship culture. Her accomplishments have become a reference point for outreach and impact in the Lander lab and broader Scripps Research community, grounded in an unwavering belief in others and a genuine commitment to building a kind scientific community.”
Moving on to the Outstanding Mentor Award portion of the program, Wiseman, who was an OMA recipient in 2019, announced that for the first time, two faculty members would be honored this year. To great applause, Wiseman revealed Assistant Professor Shannon Miller and Associate Professor Michael Constantinides were the 2025 Outstanding Mentor Award recipients.
“Having experienced her mentorship firsthand, we can confidently say that Shannon is a remarkable mentor who embodies the qualities of leadership, empathy, and passion that this award represents,” said Nadine Berenst, a graduate student in Miller’s lab and one of several lab members who nominated her for the award. “Shannon’s enthusiasm for science is contagious. She takes the time to teach, guide, and learn alongside her trainees. Even though we all come from different scientific backgrounds, she ensures that each of us has the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence we need to thrive.”
Graduate student Gabrielle Leblanc and postdoctoral scholar Viviane Agbogan both nominated Mike Constantinides for the 2025 Outstanding Mentor Award. “I nominated Mike because he leads with trust, generosity and genuine care, giving me the freedom to develop my own research ideas while always making himself available for discussion and guidance,” said Agbogan. Leblanc concurred, adding, “Mike has been so supportive and has created a truly encouraging learning environment.”
The event concluded with congratulations and gratitude to the awardees, nominees and everyone at Scripps Research—from faculty members to postdoctoral scholars and graduate students—whose daily mentorship efforts create a vibrant academic climate focused on lifting everyone toward not just scientific excellence, but personal growth and fulfillment.