CBE graduate student Mahshid Mokhtarnejad won the Graduate Research Mentor Award at the Faculty Research Mentor Award recognition session at this spring’s Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA) event.

“It’s truly an honor to empower the next generation of researchers, particularly women in STEM fields, during my academic journey,” said Mahshid.

EURēCA took place on April 25 in UT’s Student Union. Led by Undergraduate Research & Fellowships in the Division of Student Success, 1,179 students showed 868 projects from a wide range of disciplines and methodologies.

Mokhtarnejad was also a finalist in the MT Thesis Competition. This achievement followed her recognition as a finalist and winner of the Carbon Nanomaterials: Graduate Student Award at the 2022 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) conference. She embarked on this journey to challenge herself by competing with peers from various academic backgrounds, aiming to condense their complex research into a concise 3-minute presentation.

This accomplishment was a collaborative effort, with support from her mentor, Granger and Beaman Distinguished University Professor Bamin Khomami, and dedicated colleagues. Working alongside Khomami greatly enriched the student’s academic experience and drove progress in their research initiatives.

Mokhtarnejad is originally from Urmia, Iran. She is now in her fourth year of studies at UT and her future aspirations revolve around research and academia. She aims to become an influential mentor where she can guide more students along the path of research.