Physics announces 2014-15 awardees of graduate student departmental teaching and research awards

Alex Kramer	Raiya Ebini	Nicoleta Ploscariu

The physics department has announced the recipients of its annual awards for graduate students excelling in the department's teaching and research programs for 2014-15.

Alex Kramer received the award for Outstanding Teaching by a First or Second Year Graduate Student. According to his faculty evaluator, "On many occasions he came up with new and good suggestions on how to present the studio demos. ... His warm personality and demeanor made him a great teaching assistant to work with."

Raiya Ebini was the recipient of Outstanding Service in Teaching by a Graduate Student. Her faculty evaluator indicates, "She has a clear record of excellent teaching as evidenced by her TEVALS and student comments. Further, she has taught both in online and face-to-face environments, which is an added plus."

Nicoleta Ploscariu is being awarded Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher. Her faculty evaluator says, "Nicoleta's meritorious work ethic and effectiveness in the lab are already well documented. The publications that she has co-authored (two as first author) over the past three years evidence this. I am elated to have her in my group and have no hesitation about nominating her for this award."

Nicoleta will present a poster on her research Tuesday, May 5, at 4 p.m. in the department outside of Cardwell Hall Room 119.

The awardees will be recognized at the department's scholarship luncheon on Thursday, May 7 at noon. The scholarship luncheon will feature alumni Jody Brazil (BS '95), who is currently CEO of Firemon, a Kansas City-based cybersecurity company.