September 30, 2009—Julie Ross, Ph.D., a pediatric cancer research leader with the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center and Medical School, has been selected to receive the University of Minnesota Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Postdoctoral Scholars Award for 2009-2010.

Ross is one of only two University professors to receive this year's award, which will be presented at a reception September 30.

"The award recognizes extraordinary performance and achievement in mentoring postdoctoral scholars at the University by providing leadership and advocacy to assist postdoctoral scholars in accomplishing significant intellectual and leadership goals in the scholars' fields of expertise," according to Gail Dubrow, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. "The award also acknowledges faculty who have encouraged and guided postdoctoral scholars in making optimal use of the postdoctoral appointment for professional development and training."

"I feel honored by this award because I very much enjoy working with students," Ross said. "Every student is different and I like their curiosity, brightness, and challenges. It's stimulating; keeps the job fun."

A University of Minnesota-educated pediatric cancer epidemiologist, Ross is professor and director of the Medical School's Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics. She also is the former associate director of the Masonic Cancer Center's Population Sciences Program, and currently is a member of the cancer center's Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention, and Prevention and Etiology research programs.

Ross describes her mentoring style as "gentle guidance." Every other week she meets with each student to listen, talk about how things are going, and exchange ideas; and each week she holds a group meeting for students to present their research projects and interact as a group. She strives to provide each student with opportunities and encourages them to achieve their best, as comments from the following three mentees reflect.

Kimberly Johnson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow who credits Ross with her appointment to a T32 Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellowship focused on pediatric epidemiology, nominated Ross for the mentor award. Johnson said, "Julie has provided me the opportunity to work on projects over the last year and a half that have led to seven first-author manuscripts, three of which have been published and four that have either been submitted to a journal or are nearly ready for submission.

 "Julie also has been instrumental in shaping my grant writing abilities. She gave me the opportunity to prepare two grant applications that have been funded: one for the Minnesota Futures Grant Symposium for the seminar, 'The Developmental Origins of Cancer,' and the other for an NIH RO3 research grant entitled "Maternal dietary folic acid and risk of medulloblastoma in a mouse model."

On a personal level, Johnson appreciates Ross' respect for work-life balance. "Julie sets a very good example for her students by 'shutting e-mail off' during her vacations. This small act lets each of us know that it is okay to be on vacation and lets everyone have the necessary guilt-free time to regroup and avoid burn-out."

Another mentee, Logan Spector, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Medical School's Department of Pediatrics and a member of the Masonic Cancer Center's Prevention and Etiology Research Program, said: "Julie has been my mentor since I started at the University as a postdoc. Since then, she has guided me to my first NIH grant, given me the honor of publishing choice data from her studies, and lent her advice to my every endeavor. Thanks in no small part to her support, I am now looking optimistically at being promoted next year. What is remarkable about Julie is that she gives this same level of dedication to every one of her mentees."

Mentee Cindy Blair, Ph.D., began working with Ross eight years ago when a student in the Epidemiology Masters of Public Health Program. She recalled: "Julie guided me in conducting statistical analyses and writing manuscripts, and always recognized my efforts by including me as a first or co-author, as appropriate, on resulting manuscripts."

Now in her fourth year of the Epidemiology Ph.D. Program, Blair continues to be mentored by Ross. "I believe the skills, knowledge, and experience I've gained will provide a competitive advantage in obtaining a postdoctoral or full-time research position," she said. "I feel very fortunate to have worked with Julie from the beginning of my training as an epidemiologist. She not only encourages students to strive for excellence, but also helps them achieve it."