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Dr. Cristian Bahrim of ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ has been awarded the Council of Undergraduate Research Physics and Astronomy Division’s Faculty Mentor Award for 2019.

The CUR Physics and Astronomy Division bestows the award each year to recognize and honor mentors in relevant disciplines who have devoted a significant amount of time to mentoring students who want to participate in undergraduate research. Final decisions are made based on nomination as well as letters of recommendation and curriculum vitae.

“Being a recipient of this national award means a lot to me,” said Bahrim who teaches in the physics department.  “It means that my efforts spread over the years in helping students to become successful in performing research as undergraduates has significance and value. It is always good to see that your effort, as faculty is not spent in vain and people appreciate it.”

Bahrim, a professor in the Physics Department, has been involved in undergraduate research since the spring of 2002 and remembers the first undergraduate research project that he mentored. The project was on the subject of “Time Travel” through the McNair Scholars Program.

Through undergraduate research, Bahrim and his students have had the opportunity to attend the “Posters on the Hill” event in Washington, D.C., where undergraduate research is presented to policymakers.

Such meetings that allow students to network with other physicists and professionals is one of the opportunities that Bonnie Ruten, one of Bahrim’s students, appreciates about his teaching and mentoring.

“Dr. Bahrim goes above and beyond to make sure that students are receiving the right information that they need in order to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Ruten. “He’s just a great example of someone who loves what he does.”  

Bahrim says he focuses on making students successful but he also hopes his efforts mentoring students make a difference to ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ.  

“I enjoy contributing to ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ’s reputation as an institution that focuses on undergraduate research,” said Bahrim. “It is important in order to bring the best students to ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ and engage them.”