It seemed like a lucky break that Alicia Schiller, Ph.D., had the time to show up to the Graduate Studies Honors Convocation Ceremony to pick up her Praesto Award, given to the most outstanding or exceptional graduate for the academic year.
In addition to earning her Ph.D. in cellular & integrative physiology under the mentorship of Irving Zucker, Ph.D., Dr. Schiller spent her time at UNMC engaged in a variety of student government activities, educational outreach initiatives, and advocacy of science policy on a national level, to the point where Dr. Zucker acknowledged that she was an “unusual” student.
“Alicia was a very well-rounded student,” Dr. Zucker said. “She was very comprehensive, and she participated in a lot of extracurricular activities that were not directly related to her thesis research.”
Involvement in national academic societies, including the American Physiological Society, and participation in student government, including the role of vice president of the Student Senate at UNMC, punctuated Dr. Schiller’s Ph.D. studies, but she also took time to inspire future generations of scientists.
“She’s done an enormous amount of outreach to bring science education to elementary school, middle school and even high school students,” Dr. Zucker said. “She’s been very active in shepherding high school students through the lab, where they’ve had time to learn techniques and understand what doing science is all about.”
“I think all of those things, plus her publications and her research, weigh in on her candidacy (for this award). She’s an extraordinary, very competent and unusual student. It’s been a long haul, but we’re really happy to see it culminate with this award,” he said.
At the ceremony, however, Dr. Schiller wasn’t in the mood to discuss past laurels, even with the Praesto Award still in her hands.
“It’s incredibly flattering and very surreal. I have several interviews scheduled in the next couple of months, so I’m very much in a transition phase,” she said.
Dr. Schiller credited her mentor, Dr. Zucker, and her supervisory committee, particularly Pamela Carmines, Ph.D., for her success — which also included the prestigious Dale J. Benos Early Career Professional Service Award from the American Physiological Society, and the Alice Cummings Award from the UNMC Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology for outstanding graduate work and participation in physiology outreach.
“They enabled me to do all the things that allowed me to get this award,” she said, also mentioning Dean of Graduate Studies Dele Davies, M.D., Vice Chancellor for External Affairs Bob Bartee, and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., for the student initiatives they’ve supported at UNMC.
“I don’t think I would have accomplished any of the things I’m getting honored for today unless those people were present,” she said. “This is definitely not a solo effort.”