About the Award
UC Davis Graduate Studies is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentorship Award. This prestigious award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated an outstanding record of mentoring graduate students and/or postdoctoral scholars.
We invite faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and/or alumni to nominate distinguished mentors who have played a pivotal role in the academic and professional development of their mentees.
Nominations will open February 9, 2026 and close March 16, 2026.
• Two Awardees will each receive $1,000 in graduate education support funds to further your efforts in mentorship, and $10,000 in Wakeham Graduate Student Mentoring Fellowship funds to be awarded to the graduate students of their choice to support professional development (e.g., conference travel).
• Three Honorable Mentions will each receive a $7,500 Wakeham Graduate Student Mentoring Fellowship to be awarded to graduate students of their choice for professional development.
Note: Students receiving the Wakeham Fellowship must be enrolled full-time in Spring Quarter and be in good academic standing. Funds are distributed as fellowship stipends directly to students.
The nomination deadline for the 2025 Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentorship Award is March 16, 2026.
- Award Eligibility
- Nominees must:
• Be current faculty members of graduate programs (department-based or graduate group) consistent with Graduate Council policy.
• Be currently employed by UC Davis.
• Have completed a minimum of four years of service at UC Davis.
- Who May Nominate
- UC Davis faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and alumni are invited to nominate a distinguished mentor of graduate students or postdoctoral scholars for this award.
- Selection Criteria
- Nominations should demonstrate the nominee’s outstanding record of mentoring, which may occur within or beyond their own departmental program or research group. For service beyond a research group, the mentor should demonstrate contributions exceeding standard administrative roles.
Nominations should emphasize one or more of the following themes:
Mentoring for Research and Scholarly Work
Examples:
• Guiding mentees through critical transitions (e.g., applicant to trainee; graduation to job placement).
• Fostering research independence..
• Developing oral and written communication skills.
• Instilling high ethical standards.
Mentoring for Career and Professional Development
Examples:
• Providing career guidance for professions inside and outside academia.
• Supporting network development with scholars and practitioners.
• Demonstrating commitment to lifelong mentoring beyond graduation or appointment completion.
Mentoring for Personal and Interpersonal Growth
Examples:
• Showing sensitivity to the unique needs of individual mentees.
• Guiding mentees through interpersonal conflicts specific to the academic environment.
• Advising on work-life balance and burnout prevention. - Nomination Materials
- Initial nomination packages must include the following:
1. Recommendation Letter (Max 3 pages): From a current or recent mentee (or group of mentees) and/or a faculty member or program chair. This letter should describe the nominee’s exemplary mentorship relative to the criteria above.
2. Letter of Support (Max 3 pages): From a colleague or chair familiar with the nominee’s qualifications. This letter should note the candidate’s graduate/professional affiliations and detail their service record relative to mentoring (e.g., involvement in graduate mentoring programs, graduate group pr graduate program service).
Nominations should provide specific evidence of outstanding mentoring activities based on one or more of the three thematic categories described above.
Note: If a nominee is selected as a finalist, Graduate Studies may request a current CV or additional letters of support from current/former students and affiliated faculty/staff.
- Selection
- The Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Welfare Committee of Graduate Council manages selection and recommends finalists to the Dean of Graduate Studies.