Teck-Kah Lim, PhD, is the former Associate Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics. He served as a dedicated leader in the Office of Graduate Studies for over a decade. Among Dr. Lim's signature achievements in advocating for graduate students and their success are the doctoral fellowship program, the health insurance subsidy program, training and mentorship programs for graduate teaching assistants, including the teaching portfolio development process, the establishment of graduate student policies, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaborations in graduate education. Dr. Lim also supported a graduate student conference travel support award in his name.

The Teck-Kah Lim Graduate Student Excellence Award, established in 2018, was presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who show promise of future meaningful contributions to local, national or global communities as can be gleaned from present academic excellence and achievements in research and/or teaching, as well as outstanding selfless service to peers, and the local community.

2026 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Kayode Oluwasegun

PhD Program in Mathematics

College of Arts and Sciences

2026 Nominees

Yash Agarwal

PhD Program in Pharmacology and Physiology

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Yash Athreya

PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Matthew Cote

MS Program in Interior Architecture

Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Emily Mercandetti

MSN Program in Nursing Education

College of Nursing and Health Professions

Chizoba Okorie

MPH Program in Epidemiology

Dornsife School of Public Health

Akari Seiner

PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Previous Award Winners

2025 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Natalie Smolin

PhD Program in Biomedical Science

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

2024 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Madison LaBella

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

2023 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Nicole Cleary

MSN Program in Nursing Education

College of Nursing and Health Professions

2022 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Kate Bormann
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

2021 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Victoria Grunberg 
PhD Program in Clinical Psychology 
College of Arts and Sciences

2020 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Asia Sarycheva
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

2019 Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner

Ali Jazayeri
PhD Program in Information Science
College of Computing and Informatics

Inaugural Teck-Kah Lim Award Winner (2018)

Dyan O'Donoghue
Master's Program in Legal Studies
Thomas R. Kline School of Law