Solorio named Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Engineering Graduate Students

Luis Solorio, an assistant professor at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, received the 2019 Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Engineering Graduate Students Award. The award was presented by the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association at a celebration held at the school on July 1.
Luis Solorio, an assistant professor at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, received the 2019 Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Engineering Graduate Students Award and is shown with his students.

Solorio credits his “fantastic” students and his own mentors for inspiring his performance as a mentor: “I have been fortunate to have had excellent mentors throughout my career, both in academia and while I was a part of the military.  These relationships were instrumental in my professional development, and I have tried to pass this forward to my students.”

Solorio was nominated by his students for his unwavering dedication to providing a positive workplace and a productive graduate school experience. Elly Lambert, a graduate student who is advised by Solorio, was one of his nominators: "Dr. Solorio cares about the needs and wants of each individual student he mentors. When I came into the lab I wasn’t sure what I was interested in, and he always provided me with opportunities and asked if I enjoyed the work I was doing. He is always willing to help us reach our career goals. He helped me to get an internship through his network and fully supported me through the entire process."

Mazin Hakim, also a graduate student of Solorio’s, noted the professor’s life-changing influence: "I thought I only wanted to do a master’s degree, but Dr. Solorio's enthusiasm for research and supportive mentorship style were influential in my decision to pursue a PhD."

The inscription on the plaque awarded to Solorio reads: “Throughout the 2018-19 academic year, Dr. Luis Solorio has exemplified thoughtfulness in providing the mentorship necessary for a successful graduate student experience. This thoughtfulness is exhibited via his constant accessibility for mentor-student interaction, accommodation to his students’ professional goals, and prioritization of their well-being. His kindness and support extend beyond the expectations of an outstanding mentor, and his students are appreciative of his unwavering dedication.”