Mentor Spotlight

Every year, the Graduate Mentor of the Year Award recognizes faculty who exemplify outstanding commitment to cultivating the next generation of scientists—those who support their trainees not only in technical skill development, but also in confidence, curiosity, and personal growth. Selected from 45 graduate student nominations representing 34 faculty, this year’s honorees include Dr. Yogesh K. Gupta, Associate Professor at the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute. Dr. Gupta was nominated by Abhay Kumar, a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering Program, who credits Dr. Gupta’s mentorship as a defining force in his scientific training and professional development.

A Mentor Who Sees Potential

Abhay describes Dr. Gupta as a mentor who “not only sees potential in his students, but actively nurtures it in a thoughtful and strategic way.” He shared: “He understands my capabilities really well and knows how to push me just enough to help me grow, without making it overwhelming.” In Dr. Gupta’s lab, trainees are encouraged to think independently, approach problems creatively, and take ownership of their work. Abhay noted that this approach has strengthened his confidence as a developing scientist: “He lets me first approach research problems on my own and then, through discussions, helps steer me in the right direction. That kind of support has really helped me build confidence and a sense of ownership.” This balance of guidance and independence—paired with Dr. Gupta’s exceptional patience—has set an environment where students feel supported to learn at their own pace while still being challenged.

A Transformative Mentorship Philosophy

When asked what mentoring means to him, Dr. Gupta shared that his philosophy has evolved significantly: “Early in my career, I saw mentoring as passing on technical skills. Over time, I’ve realized it’s far more about listening, guiding, and empowering.” He describes his approach as “compassionate rigor” or striving for scientific excellence in an environment where students feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, and ask questions. Dr. Gupta aims to foster more than technical proficiency. He hopes mentees leave his lab with a sense of scientific curiosity, integrity, resilience, and an appreciation for collaboration: “I want them to trust their ideas, seek help with humility, support others, and see that purpose, kindness, and rigor can coexist to make lasting impact.”

Helping Students Grow Beyond the Bench

Abhay shared two powerful stories that illustrate Dr. Gupta’s mentorship in action.

1. Overcoming fear and finding confidence

Public speaking was once a major hurdle for Abhay. Recognizing this, Dr. Gupta gently nudged him toward growth—encouraging him to attend lunches with visiting speakers, suggesting he present posters at local symposia, and reinforcing small wins. The result? Abhay not only presented posters—he won 2nd and 3rd place at the Mays Cancer Symposium and the Mikiten Graduate Symposium. “If it weren’t for Dr. Gupta’s encouragement, I don’t think I would have ever taken that step.”

2. Developing independence as a structural biologist

When Abhay joined the lab, he was new to the field and unsure of himself. Dr. Gupta met this uncertainty with patience, resources, and steady support. Three years later, Abhay has co-authored two papers in Cell and eLife, and is preparing his first-author manuscript. “Dr. Gupta doesn’t just train researchers—he builds confident, independent scientists.”

To further illustrate Dr. Gupta’s mentorship and its impact beyond the bench is one of his proudest mentoring moments —the success of one of his first graduate students, Shan Qi. Despite facing potential setbacks when another group published similar findings, Shan reframed the challenge into an opportunity—with Dr. Gupta’s encouragement. Shan’s resulting work earned a prestigious Hibbs Award, a first-author publication, and a postdoctoral position with an HHMI investigator.

Advice to New Mentors

Dr. Gupta encourages new faculty to remember that mentorship is inherently individual: “Growth takes time and guidance, not pressure. Maintain open, honest conversations—not just about data, but about goals, challenges, and well-being.”

He also believes institutions should treat mentoring as a core measure of academic excellence, woven into promotion, training, and evaluation. Reflecting on the role mentoring has played in his own career, he shared: “My mentees have mentored me back. Their curiosity and perseverance inspire me and remind me why I chose this path.”

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences proudly recognizes Dr. Yogesh K. Gupta, Graduate Mentor of the Year, for his exceptional dedication to cultivating capable, confident, and compassionate scientists.

To learn more, reach out to Mentoring@uthscsa.edu.