Congratulations to the 2021-22 STAR Scholars Outstanding Mentors of the Year, Dr. Caroline Schauer and Dr. Brian Stuart!
September 1, 2022
Caroline L. Schauer, PhD is the inaugural Margaret C. Burns Chair in Engineering, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs in the College of Engineering, and Professor in Materials Science and Engineering. Dr. Schauer heads the Natural Materials and Polymer Processing group at Drexel, where her research encompasses a wide range of topics including processing natural polymers, structural color thin films, electrospun nanoyarns, wound healing dressings and tissue engineering.
Dr. Schauer mentored three STAR Scholars this summer, Alessandra Cabrera, Eli Werbach, and Conway Zheng.
Alessandra Cabrera, Conway Zheng, and Eli Werbach said, “Reflecting upon our STAR experiences, we all are truly indebted to our mentor’s endless kindness and passion for bringing community to her laboratory space.” Conway added, “She went above and beyond to connect with her students.”
The students appreciated Dr. Schauer’s ability to foster their intellectual and professional development, noting that she “encouraged imaginative exploration.”
Conway Zheng said, “One of the first things that Dr. Schauer said in a Zoom meeting was the emphasis that she puts on creating a family in the lab group. Dr. Schauer is research-oriented, and driven, which gives our lab the ability to put out so many papers, but at the same time, she wants to create a hospitable environment for her researchers.”
Dr. Brian Stuart is an Associate Teaching Professor of Computer Science who teaches in areas such as computer science, data communications, distributed/operating systems, accelerated computer programming, and computer graphics. His research and development experience has spanned a wide variety of disciplines including machine learning, networking, robotics, image processing, simulation, interpreters, data storage, and operating systems.
Dr. Stuart mentored three STAR Scholars this summer, Nicholas Ingravallo, Annaliese Blowers, and Audra Stein.
Nicholas Ingravallo said, “Dr. Stuart has facilitated my growth in research and my general academic life. It always felt that he would listen carefully and exactly to what I had to say, and then help me with my dilemma.” Audra Stein added, “As a mentor, Dr. Stuart has given us full control over our projects, making it known that I would be working with him, not for him. I often feel he has more faith in me than I do in myself.”
Annaliese Blowers said, “Dr. Stuart has made a profound impact on me. I would not be in this program without him encouraging me to apply and offering the opportunity to work with him. I was so flattered when he said this, and it felt so good to have someone see potential in me. He has provided advice in so many ways that has been an incredible benefit to my life and I am so grateful to him for that.”
Thank you, Dr. Schauer and Dr. Stuart for guiding and inspiring our STAR Scholars!