May 10, 2023
Students choose BAE researcher for mentoring award
MSU Spartan students have spoken. Ilce Medina-Meza was voted the Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year – an honor presented during the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) in April.
She is an assistant professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and currently leads the College of Engineering’s Food and Health Engineering Laboratory.
Students praised her “extraordinary commitment to undergraduate research,” as well as her “unwavering guidance and help navigating unexpected circumstances.”
Medina-Meza’s undergraduate nominator expressed appreciation for her “willingness to answer any call, text, or email” no matter the time or day of the week. She is known for fostering an environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and performing new experiments, developing leadership skills as their confidence grows.
Since 2018, Medina-Meza has mentored more than 50 undergraduate students and eight graduate students. She encourages participation in internships and programs and aids anyone who seeks her advice.
Story courtesy of MSU Undergraduate Education.
