Aya Saleh, a Ph.D. student in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.

When Saleh learned that she had won the award, she said, “I felt overwhelmingly happy and honored to receive this great recognition from the Purdue Graduate School.” She believes that “paying special attention to recognizing the varying paces at which students learn and develop, and devising adaptive ways to cater to their needs” led to her selection.

As a teaching assistant, she has experience with the BME courses “Biomolecular and Cellular Systems Laboratory” and “Biotransport Laboratory.” Saleh noted that what she enjoys about teaching is “the sense of fulfillment one gets when students understand complex concepts and are able to apply them.”

Advised by Dr. Tamara Kinzer-Ursem, Saleh uses protein engineering tools to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of proteins in vivo. She is interested in pursuing a career in academia when she graduates.