LSI Principal Investigator and Associate Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dr. Eric Jan has won the 2017 Killam Award for Excellence in Mentoring for his passion and dedication to mentoring students to reach their full potential as researchers.
The Killam Awards for Excellence in Mentoring recognize outstanding mentorship of numerous graduate students over many years. The awards are adjudicated by a committee chaired by the Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The Killam General Endowment at the University of British Columbia (administered by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic) provides the funds for the awards.
Dr. Jan was recruited to UBC in 2006, following his postdoctoral training at Stanford University. The interactions and impact of viruses with the cells of their host organisms are the focal point of his research program at the UBC LSI. Other research interests in his laboratory include Cancer, Cellular stress, Diabetes, Gene Regulation and Expression, mRNA, Translation.
As a mid-career nominee, Dr. Jan was recognized as being outstanding for his mentoring style. He has been the principal supervisor for 10 graduate students and co-supervisor of five additional graduate students. He has also mentored five postdoctoral fellows.
Dr. Jan was nominated by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and was overwhelmingly praised for his highly supportive mentoring style the strikes a balance between providing active guidance and encouraging freedom to develop and explore their own ideas.
In addition to mentoring graduate students, Dr. Jan has supervised a total of 70 undergraduate students through Directed Studies, Co-op, Summer, Work-Learn and Undergraduate Internships. According to his mentees, Dr. Jan encourages his students to follow their own passions, and actively supports them to achieve their career goals, both within and outside the academy.
To read more about the award nomination and announcement, please visit: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/about-us/news/killam-award-excellence-mentoring-announced
Learn more about Dr. Jan’s Research and Research group on our website: https://lsi.ubc.ca/person/eric-jan/