GSA Faculty Teaching/Mentoring Award goes to Gonzalez, Beier

BY MARK PASSWATERS
Special to the Rice News

Ramon Gonzalez, the William W. Akers Assistant Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Margaret Beier, assistant professor of psychology, share this year’s Graduate Student Association Faculty Teaching/Mentoring Award, presented to those who demonstrate outstanding service to graduate student education.

	RAMON GONZALEZ		MARGARET BEIER

Gonzalez said winning an award that was voted on by graduate students, whom he works closely with, is a particular honor.

“I am thrilled to receive this award, especially because it is given by the students,” he said. “My research group is comprised of eight to 10 students and postdocs. I advise them on a variety of topics related to their graduate studies, including research. It is very gratifying to realize that I have played a very important role in their career development.”

Gonzalez said the unique teaching environment at Rice has helped him and his graduate students make great progress in their research.

“I have been at Rice for five years, and this university is one that promotes research, teaching and collaboration like few others,” he said.

Beier, who is in her sixth year at Rice, said she was surprised when she received word that she had won the award.

“I was quite honored, mainly because I felt that these types of awards typically go to more senior members of the faculty,” she said. “I feel so privileged to work with great graduate students, and I’m humbled by this award. It really belongs to them, too.”

Beier, who works with students pursuing doctorates in psychology, said one of her major objectives is to help her graduate students obtain recognition in their field through published work.

“These are research degrees, and our work generally requires the collection of empirical data,” she said. “Some of the students are interested in becoming academicians and some are not. Regardless of their interests, they work on independent projects to achieve their milestones, but we also work on joint projects that will oftentimes lead to publications. My goal is to get students published.”

Beier said winning the award was validating and served as reassurance that her approach to mentoring graduate students was the right one.

“Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the immediate benefit of time spent mentoring students,” she said. “Winning this award reinforces the idea that the time I spend mentoring students is appreciate by them, which means a lot to me

“Sometimes, my role as mentor feels a lot like my role as a mom. Moms often hear about when something goes badly, but hardly ever hear the positive stuff. The positive stuff is nice to hear.”