Christine Aidala, Physics Professor, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award. This prestigious honor recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to mentoring graduate students and fostering their academic and professional growth.

Professor Aidala has long been a champion of student success, guiding numerous graduate students through groundbreaking research and academic challenges. Her dedication to mentorship extends beyond the laboratory, as she actively cultivates an inclusive and supportive research environment that empowers students to excel. She has received recognition of her outstanding work with students throughout her career at the University of Michigan, including a Partnerships for Access, Community, and Excellence (PACE) Fellowship (2024), the John Dewey Award (2020), the Imes and Moore Mentorship Award (2019), and the Willie Hobbs Moore: Aspire, Advance, Achieve Award (2014).

Professor Aidala’s unwavering commitment to mentorship has had a lasting impact on her students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and national laboratories.