Announcing the 2026 Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award Recipients
Graduate Studies and Graduate Council are thrilled to honor two extraordinary faculty members with this year's Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentorship Awards. These awards shine a light on the power of mentorship in shaping the academic and professional journeys of UC Davis graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Each recipient will receive a $1,000 award and a letter of recognition. Additionally, an allocation of $10,000 in Wakeham Mentoring Fellowship funds is available to each recipient to be distributed among their students as professional development stipends, including support for travel to professional conferences.
Meet the 2026 Recipients and Read About Their Impact
Brian Trainor, Professor
Department of Psychology
"Dr. Trainor truly exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding mentor. Through his unwavering support, thoughtful guidance, and authentic care for the personal and professional growth of his trainees, he has created an environment in which students feel empowered to pursue ambitious, novel research and meaningful careers beyond their training in his lab."
"Of Dr. Trainor’s many strengths, his commitment to supporting the personal and interpersonal growth of his trainees is among the most remarkable. He is truly one of the most compassionate and kindhearted mentors one could hope to work with, and this is evident in the way he interacts with both current and former graduate students. There have been times in each of our lives where we have struggled with mental health or personal difficulties, and he is quick to notice these changes in our attitudes and wellbeing."
"His compassion and commitment to his students are perhaps most evident in the way he supports the lab community during difficult times. When a former graduate student in the lab suddenly passed away, Dr. Trainor made it a priority to ensure that her memory and impact were honored... His efforts during this time have demonstrated his deep care for his students and his commitment to maintaining lasting connections that extend far beyond our time in the lab."
Archana Venkatesan, Professor
Department of Religious Studies
“Archana has been an invaluable mentor to me. We first met during my interview, and she has been involved and engaged in making my experience while at Davis and after, better. She has made me a better scholar and has taught me that good mentorship is not just about helping students make better choices, but also about getting them back on their feet after they fail."
“Archana was extremely understanding and sensitive to my needs as a first-generation college student. She truly went above and beyond my expectations of what an advisor can be. For instance, she taught me how to write grant applications such that I was able to secure highly competitive fellowships, both internal and external, including awards from the ACLS/Robert H.N. Ho Foundation, the Khyentse Foundation, the Garchen Stiftung, and the Drikung Foundation."
“Dr. Venkatesan always makes herself available to endorse us with letters of recommendation, to read or discuss new material we have written or collaborate on best teaching practices, to review our applications for internships, scholarships, conferences, and the like. Simply put, there is never a time when Dr. Venkatesan comes across as too busy to make time for us. Instead, it is abundantly clear that our success in this program matters to Dr. Venkatesan beyond what that success might signify about the vitality of the department, and we could not be more fortunate to have someone like her in our corner."
Honorable Mentions
Graduate Studies and Graduate Council would like to extend special recognition to the following faculty members for their outstanding contributions to mentorship. Each honorable mention will also receive an allocation of $7,500 in Wakeham Mentoring Fellowship funds to be distributed among their students:
- Ryan Lee Cartwright, Associate Professor, American Studies
- Megan Dennis, Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
- Rachel Whitmer, Professor, Public Health Sciences and Neurology
Mentoring Initiatives at UC Davis
Mentorship remains a cornerstone of Graduate Studies’ strategic initiatives. We are dedicated to fostering a vibrant culture of mentorship that enhances the success of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and our mentoring initiatives play a pivotal role in achieving this goal.