Originally published March 14, 2016
Jorge Gardea-Torresdey, Ph.D., has been recognized by the Graduate School at The University of Texas at El Paso as the first recipient of the UTEP Graduate Mentor Award.
Gardea-Torresdey is the Dudley Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering at UTEP and is currently serving as the chair of the Department of Chemistry. In the 25 years he has been at UTEP, Gardea-Torresdey has compiled a remarkable record of scientific achievement in the field of environmental chemistry. He has authored more than 400 publications and holds five patents for environmental remediation.
In his UTEP career, he has mentored 32 Ph.D. graduates and 28 who have received master’s degrees. He currently has more than 20 graduate students working in his research lab.
“Dr. Gardea-Torresdey provides an outstanding example of mentoring at this university,” said Charles Ambler, Ph.D., dean of the UTEP Graduate School. “He genuinely cares about his students, and is deeply invested in their success.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Gardea-Torresdey has received numerous awards and accolades acknowledging his significant contributions in his field; however, this particular award holds special meaning for him.
“This is the most important award of my career,” Gardea-Torresdey said. “It is the first award of its kind to be presented at UTEP in 102 years. All the students I have mentored have been so successful in their careers, many continuing on the path of becoming accomplished researchers and professors. I am very proud and satisfied.”
The award was presented at a ceremony held Feb. 24, 2016. The ceremony also included awards for outstanding dissertations and theses, acknowledging the work of graduate students and their major professors from each college.