The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) at Harvard has announced the recipients of the 2025 MCB Mentorship Awards, honoring four individuals whose dedication to guiding and supporting others has had a profound impact on the department. This year’s awardees—Colin Kim, Amanda Whipple, Isobel Wouk Green, and Claire Ang—were nominated by mentees who praised not only their scientific insight, but also their compassion, encouragement, and tireless investment in others’ growth.
(l to r) Jaina Gable, Kara McKinley, Claire Ang, Juan Orozco, and Ben Manetta
Claire Ang: Building Trust and Growth
Claire Ang, graduate student in the Kara Lavidge McKinley Lab, was nominated by McKinley along with three other colleagues: Jaina Gable, Research Assistant in the McKinley Lab, Juan Orozco, MCO graduate student in the Ryan Nett Lab, and Ben Manetta, HDRB concentrator.
Claire traces her mentoring roots back to her undergraduate experience. “Ever since, I’ve believed that anyone can become excellent at anything if given trust and the right support,” Ang says. “Providing that support through mentorship is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in science.”
At Harvard, Claire mentors an undergraduate researcher, a staff scientist, and fellow MCO graduate students. Her mentorship also extends beyond the lab, including through her work as the two-time co-director of the Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH) program.
“Claire is incredibly productive and organized, and she shares all of her strategies and skills with members of the lab, while also discussing how to modify the strategies to suit them,” says McKinley. “Throughout, Claire has been unceasingly kind and patient, and she has empowered her lab colleagues and respected and honored all that they bring to their partnership.”
Claire’s colleagues are also grateful for her mentorship. “She has been an outstanding mentor throughout my time in the McKinley lab, combining deep biological knowledge with a rare ability to teach with patience and precision. Claire remains patient and strives to provide a learning experience that is pivotal to my own development as a scientist,” one mentee reflects, emphasizing her dedication to both professional and personal growth.
Beyond her teaching, Claire fosters meaningful relationships, offering steady support through academic and personal challenges. “She’s always had level-headed, solid advice to give me and has talked me off quite a few ledges, so to speak,” another mentee shares, highlighting her invaluable role as both a mentor and a role model. “Claire is a powerhouse in the lab, a dedicated mentor (to plenty of grad students and undergrads), and an incredibly knowledgeable teacher.”
Claire reflects that her goal for working together with her colleagues has been not only to advance the understanding of uterine biology (the focus of McKinley’s lab) “but also to help my team members understand how to build strategies for approaching their research in a manner that leverages their individual working styles.”
Isobel Wouk Green and Adjoa Yeboah
Isobel Wouk Green: Paying It Forward Through Teamwork
As a PhD student in neuroscience, Isobel Wouk Green found that mentoring undergraduates wasn’t just fulfilling—it shaped her own scientific thinking and made the lab a more joyful place.
“I think that working as a team makes science so much more fun!” she says. “As an undergraduate and master’s student, I had wonderful scientific mentors, and this made all the difference to my passion for neuroscience and my belief in my own ability to become a scientist.”
During her PhD, Isobel worked closely with two senior thesis students, including Adjoa Yeboah, a senior Neuroscience concentrator and member of the Naoshige Uchida Lab, who nominated her for the mentorship award. “Their curiosity challenged me to dive into new areas of science and think deeply about experimental design,” she says. “Probably the most rewarding part of my PhD was watching these students grow into confident and capable scientists.”
Yeboah credits Isobel with much of her growth as a researcher. Over nearly three years, Isobel patiently taught Adjoa lab protocols, surgical techniques, and behavioral experiments, all while encouraging her to take charge of her own learning. As Adjoa progressed, she developed the confidence and skills to lead a pilot project and complete a senior thesis. “Not only did Isobel believe in me every step of the way, but she was instrumental in helping me experiment, analyze, and synthesize my thesis data,” Adjoa says. “She guided me with nothing but grace and patience.”
Colin Kim and Jazmin Pearson
Colin Kim: Fostering Independent Thinkers
For Colin Kim, a postdoctoral fellow in the MCB lab of Ryan Nett, mentorship is at the heart of the academic mission, as he believes there is no greater reward than witnessing students grow from curious learners into independent thinkers, effective communicators, and creators of new knowledge.
“I deeply value the academic environment, especially the mentorship that lies at its core,” Colin reflects. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance and encouragement of my own mentors.”
Colin has served as the primary mentor for undergraduate researcher Jazmin Pearson, MCB Concentrator, who nominated him for the award. Over the past year and a half, Colin has provided steady guidance while encouraging Jazmin to take ownership of her research. When her initial project stalled, he helped her pivot to a new, more challenging direction—an act that required him to temporarily set aside his own research to ensure she gained a comprehensive scientific experience. “His unwavering support and confidence in my abilities convinced me to take on the challenge,” Jazmin says. “Colin is the best mentor I have ever had—supportive without being pushy, involved without being overbearing.” From research design to thesis writing, Colin’s dedication helped Jazmin develop into a more confident and capable scientist.
“One of my goals has also been to help her become a teacher in her own right,” Colin says. “Encouraging her to take ownership of her research and share her knowledge with confidence. It has been a true privilege to witness Jazmin’s growth into a scientist, and I’m especially grateful to have been nominated by her.”
Danaé Terrien and Amanda Whipple
Amanda Whipple: High Expectations, High Support
MCB faculty member Amanda Whipple’s mentoring philosophy is grounded in the belief that excellence thrives on both challenge and encouragement.
“When asked to describe my mentoring style, over time my answer has crystallized into this: high expectations, high support,” she says.
Prof. Whipple was nominated by Danaé Terrien, a visiting master’s student from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland who worked in Whipple’s lab. Terrient describes her mentorship experience there as one of the most impactful of her academic career. “From the outset, Amanda offered support with everything from settling in to successfully applying for a fellowship—guiding me through the application process, offering detailed feedback, and even participating in the submission video,” she says. In the lab, Amanda fosters a space where expectations are clear, feedback is direct, and independence is encouraged. “Her mentorship balances guidance with independence, giving me the support I need and the space to grow,” Danaé adds.
Working with trainees at every stage—from undergraduates to postdocs—Prof. Whipple offers guidance on research, writing, communication, and even lab management and career planning. She emphasizes mentorship that extends well beyond a trainee’s time in the lab, adding that her role doesn’t end when someone leaves the lab. She stays connected and continues to support them in any way she can.
Prof. Whipple sees mentorship as one of the most meaningful aspects of her academic career. “Mentoring is something I care deeply about, and in times like these—when so many students and early-career researchers are facing uncertainty—I think it matters more than ever that trainees feel supported, encouraged, and valued.”
The winners will receive a cash prize and a certificate of recognition for their mentorship achievements.
