Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD, has been named as recipient of the 2024 Paul E. Darlington Mentor Award. This award, named after former Associate Dean Paul E. Darlington, is presented annually to a Graduate School faculty member who has made an exceptional impact on students and faculty through their mentoring efforts.

Jayaraman is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. She has been a Graduate School faculty member since 2002 and is affiliated with the Neuroscience and Molecular and Translational Biology programs. Her research focuses on the structure and functions of neurotransmitter receptors. 

"I am honored to receive the Paul E. Darlington Mentor Award," said Jayaraman. "Winning this award is truly meaningful to me, as it highlights something I love doing. It is a celebration of the connections and the successes we have achieved together. I share this award with the students, postdocs, and faculty with whom I have worked. Mentoring is a partnership and it is successful only when both sides work together."

Jayaraman was previously awarded the D. Dudley and Judy White Oldham Faculty Award in 2020 to recognize excellence in service and leadership. She also received the University of Texas System Board of Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award in 2017, which honors faculty who deliver excellence to the learning experience through outstanding teaching. Jayaraman will be presented with the award at the annual GSBS Lab Coat Ceremony, which will be held on Friday, October 18 at the Cooley Center.