Postdoctoral scholar Kendra Clark, PhD, is the 2022 recipient of the UNMC Pathway to Independence Award.
“I am honored to be a recipient of this prestigious award,” Dr. Clark said. “I want to thank my mentor Dr. John Davis for his support and excellent mentorship and the other faculty and administrative staff in the OB/GYN department for their continued support.”
Dr. Clark and her mentor, John Davis, PhD, professor and director of research and development with the Olson Center for Women’s Health, will be recognized during the Office of Postdoctoral Education Annual Event and Awards on Friday, Nov. 4.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Sorrell Center, room 2010, and will include a keynote address by James Gould, PhD, director of the Office of Postdoctoral Fellows at Harvard Medical School.
The UNMC Pathway to Independence Award recognizes promising postdoctoral scholars at early stages in their career for their contributions to research and preparation for an independent career. The award is not given out every year and was most recently awarded in 2020.
Dr. Clark’s long-term research goal is to investigate how chemical exposures impact reproductive physiology and fertility outcomes throughout the lifespan.
Dele Davies, MD, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies, said postdoctoral fellows are crucial to the success of UNMC’s research mission.
“This seminar recognizes the many contributions of our postdocs to this mission as well as to our educational and outreach missions,” he said. “My sincere congratulations to Dr. Clark as well as to her mentor, Dr. Davis, who has mentored the recipient of this award for the past two years.”
Iqbal Ahmad, PhD, associate dean and director of postdoctoral education and research, said there is a lot to celebrate.
“This year, the annual seminar is about celebrating the outstanding productivity of our postdocs, who published 533 first-author papers over the last five years and recognizing the winner and finalists for annual awards,” Dr. Ahmad said. “The address by Dr. James Gould on networking and storytelling is befitting to their accomplishments toward career advancement.”
Susmita Barman, PhD, and Wen Xue, PhD, also will be honored at the event as Excellence in Research Award Finalists. Dr. Davis, Bin Duan, PhD, and Punita Dhawan, PhD, will receive the Excellence in Mentoring Award for their work with Drs. Clark, Xue and Barman. Rajendra Angara, PhD, will receive the inaugural Certificate in Teaching Skills.
Congratulations to all