Six Exemplary Mentors honored with Fall 2025 Mentorship Spotlight Awards
The winners were nominated by students, postdocs, faculty, and staff in recognition of their exceptional commitment to mentorship.
Six members of the Department of Chemistry community have been honored with the department’s semi-annual Mentorship Spotlight Award. Established in 2020, the award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to fostering a positive working environment, leading by example, and providing outstanding mentorship to their peers and mentees. Each recipient will be presented with a crystal award and a monetary prize.
Fall 2025 Mentorship Spotlight Awardees
Anton Barybin
Anton Barybin, a graduate student, was recognized for his compassion, wisdom, and humility, paired with a consistently patient and encouraging approach to mentoring within and beyond the lab of Professor Matthew D. Shoulders. One nominator shared: “His approach to mentorship goes above and beyond benchwork guidance, helping me to think independently and creatively.”
“My approach to mentorship is guided by two primary lessons: always share your knowledge and never stop learning. Working alongside brilliant researchers from multiple fields has accelerated my scientific growth and motivates me to serve as a mentor to others,” said Anton. “Tackling complex problems often requires collaboration and interdisciplinarity, and there is so much we can learn from each other.”
In addition to mentoring a UROP student in the Shoulders Lab, Anton is developing systems for the continuous directed evolution of biomolecules in mammalian cells. His current focus is on evolving enhanced variants of miniature CRISPR proteins for applications in synthetic biology and genomic medicine.
Juan Cintrón-Cruz
Graduate student Juan Cintrón-Cruz was celebrated for his generosity, kindness, and availability, as well as his invaluable contributions to both the scientific and social community within Professor Jeremiah A. Johnson’s group. As one nominator noted: “Juan’s dedication to mentorship is complemented by his own strong research accomplishments, and he balances both with humility and a spirit of service that is rare and deeply appreciated.”
“I’ve been fortunate to learn from passionate and dedicated mentors throughout my career, and their guidance has been instrumental in my development as a researcher,” said Juan. “Because of this, I feel a strong responsibility to pass on the lessons and support I received to my mentees as they navigate their research journey.”
Juan’s research focuses on the molecular connectivity of crosslinked polymeric materials. Using synthetic organic chemistry tools, he develops methodologies to map the complex structures of polymer networks, enabling the design of novel materials by predicting and tuning their macroscopic properties.
Dr. Carolina Ortiz Cordero
Postdoctoral Researcher Carolina Ortiz Cordero was honored for her dedication to fostering an environment of collaboration and support as the sole postdoctoral researcher in Professor Laura L. Kiessling’s lab. Her contributions were described as “profound” and “instrumental,” inspiring her colleagues to follow her example of mentorship. One colleague shared: “What strikes me most about Carolina is her infectious enthusiasm for scientific discovery. Her genuine excitement lifts the spirits of everyone around her and reminds us to stay engaged with our work.”
“I want students and peers to reach their goals and grow into confident scientists and thoughtful individuals,” said Carolina. “Supporting mentees—whether through helping them work through failure, celebrating their progress, or simply taking time to listen—drives me to offer advice and guidance whenever I can. Having benefitted from supportive mentors who did the same for me, I’m motivated to pay that forward.”
Carolina’s research focuses on how cell-surface glycans regulate cell–cell interactions in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In interdisciplinary teams, she studies how heparan sulfate proteoglycans influence vulnerability and resilience in Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, she co-developed single-cell and spatial approaches to measure multimodal glycan abundance, uncovering cell-type–specific glycan signatures in tissues.
Dane Johnson
Dane Johnson was recognized for the support, reassurance, patience, and thoughtful guidance he provides to members of Professor Danna E. Freedman’s lab. A graduate student, Dane leads by example, demonstrating the lasting impact of compassionate mentorship. One mentee shared: “It’s been a joy to learn from Dane, and despite his [humble] resistance to being referred to as my mentor, I’m grateful for his guidance and hope to support others in the same way.”
“When I joined our lab, there was a lot I needed to learn to get up to speed,” said Dane. “I benefitted from excellent past mentors in the group, so it’s important to me to give back. I enjoy teaching new students how we think about the intersection of chemistry and physics, making it exciting rather than daunting.”
Dane’s research focuses on the synthesis of organometallic molecules as optically addressable spin centers for quantum sensing, as well as the development of organic scintillator crystals for sub-GeV dark matter searches.
Dr. Kira Podolsky
Postdoctoral Researcher Kira Podolsky was honored for her thoughtful guidance, patient support, and genuine encouragement of all members of Professor Ronald T. Raines’ lab. Her mentorship of a UROP student was particularly noted. One student wrote: “Kira is not only an amazing researcher but also the best mentor. She helped me become proud of my accomplishments and my journey, and I’m even more proud to say she’s my mentor.”
“My major motivation for mentoring is to make science and research more accessible by fostering student engagement in the entire scientific process and remaining open to new, creative ideas,” said Kira.
Kira’s research focuses on investigating peptide catalysts and their role as prebiotic enzymes in the origins of life. Her undergraduate mentee, Vivian Long, has played a crucial role in the thorough in vitro characterization of the peptide catalysts.
Rebecca Reid
Rebecca Reid, the Department of Chemistry’s Assistant Director of Research Administration, was recognized for her patience, preparedness, adaptability, and diligence as the leader of the Chemistry Headquarters Finance Team. She also received praise for proactively creating a comprehensive and actionable onboarding plan to help new team members find their footing. A nominator shared: “Rebecca uplifts her team and directs them toward professional development opportunities that strengthen their skills within MIT and beyond. These are all hallmarks of an outstanding mentor.”
“I consider the ability to mentor a great privilege, and some of the most meaningful aspects of mentorship are helping others recognize their strengths, understand themselves more fully, and achieve their potential,” said Rebecca. “Mentorship goes beyond just guidance—it’s about creating the conditions for confident, sustainable growth. When we invest in others through listening, challenging, supporting, and opening doors, we amplify individual impact and help build a community that rises together.”
Rebecca is the Assistant Director of Research Administration for MIT’s Department of Chemistry, where she leads the Chemistry Headquarters Finance Team. Her team works closely with faculty and administrative staff to manage research portfolios, guide departmental budgeting, and maintain rigorous financial compliance. Their work supports the long-term sustainability of the department’s research and academic mission.
