UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Gary H. Perdew, John T. and Paige S. Smith Professor in Agricultural Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences, is the recipient of the 2017 Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award.
The award honors and recognizes outstanding achievement by a faculty member with at least five years of service who effectively guides junior faculty. Howard Palmer was the senior associate dean of The Graduate School from 1984 to 1991.
A colleague Perdew mentored said Perdew challenges faculty to think independently about research and encourages them to collaborate and network with scientists to further their own knowledge.
Perdew takes time to review and track the work of his junior colleagues and encourages them to publish in high-impact journals, maintain scientific integrity and provide solid training and mentoring of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
“Having a mentor like Perdew has fostered my growth, the growth of his other mentees and also other faculty members who follow his attitude and approach,” said a colleague. “Not only does he provide solid training and mentoring, but he is also a good colleague and friend.”
Perdew has been instrumental in building the Center for Molecular Toxicology with a focus on nuclear receptor biology. He rallied support from administrators to obtain highly recognized scientists to join the research team. Colleagues said his superb reputation in his field helped procure talented researchers.
Perdew has also created an environment that breeds success and development within the University. His dedication to supporting graduate students through travel grants and student assistantships continues to build talent as has his dedication to junior faculty.
“I am grateful to Dr. Perdew for successfully mentoring me not only during my early years but also to this very day,” said a colleague. “Without his guidance and foresight, I would not have attained the success I have achieved. He was instrumental in helping me obtain promotion and tenure to associate professor after four years and then promoted to full professor after another four years. He finally aided me in acquiring the credentials to qualify for a distinguished professor after just 10 years.”
The colleague added that Perdew helped him attain more than $10 million in research grants and has helped others do the same.