SOUTH CAROLINA: SC INBRE student mentor wins Goldwater Mentor Award
SC INBRE Student-Initiated Research Project Program (SIRP) student mentor George Shields, Furman University, has been recognized for his mentorship as the recipient of the 2022 Faculty Mentor Award from the Council on Undergraduate Research and the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Four students under the chemistry professor’s tutelage have won Fulbright awards and 13 became Goldwater Scholars, including five at Furman, three of those in 2021.
“George is a remarkable mentor,” said Furman University President Elizabeth Davis. “He guides his students as they develop a deep understanding of the field of chemistry and the nuances of life. He gives them a chance to find themselves and identify future careers in science. Furman is very proud to have him on our faculty.”
“It really is hard work, but the payoff is great,” Shields said. “You see these students who go on and get PhDs and they come back and they tell you about their research and you think, boy that sounds impressive, I wish I understood it better.”