Gosia Chwatko Research Faculty Mentor of the Month
June Faculty Mentor of the Month
Dr. Gosia Chwatko is an assistant professor in the College of Engineering Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering. Before ending up at UK, she studied undergrad at the University of Connecticut and then earned both her masters and PhD in chemical engineering from University of Texas Austin.
In the past year, she has mentored five undergraduate students, three graduate students, and one high school student. “Undergraduate students become active researchers in the laboratory. They are usually paired with a graduate student mentor and work together to collect data and achieve our project goals,” said Dr. Chwatko. “Students commonly answer their own research questions by reading publications and working in the lab.” Her lab currently focuses on understanding and developing separation processes to support sustainability efforts from cradle to grave, according to the Chwatko Research Group website.
“In her lab, Dr. Chwatko goes above and beyond to provide her students with all the resources and guidance they need to succeed in their research projects,” explained one of her mentees. “By talking to students she ensures that her students fully understand the concepts and encourages them to think critically and ask questions. Dr. Chwatko fosters an inclusive and supportive environment in the lab. She values all of the students and their ideas.” In her own words, “Early career undergraduate researchers often bring fresh perspectives to our projects. We love helping them find their passion for engineering and research as they help us answer important research questions,” described Dr.Chwatko.
Dr. Chwatko participated in undergraduate research during her own educational journey. “Big shout-out to Dr. Jeff McCutcheon, Dr. Jason Arena, and Dr. Daniel Anastasio. They have all been amazing mentors from my time as an undergraduate to now. They made me feel like a researcher from day one,” said Dr. Chwatko. “I was always included in important experiments and lab coffee/lunch trips. As a PI now, I also strive to foster the same inclusive culture.” In her own lab, she looks for undergraduate students that are curious, work well in teams, and want to explore opportunities outside of the classroom.
“Give research a try, and don't be afraid to look for the right fit for you in terms of mentorship, project interest, and group culture,” said Dr. Chwatko. “You will be a part of developing new knowledge, which others may read in a required course textbook one day.”
Thank you Dr. Chwatko for your continued support of undergraduate research at the University of Kentucky. We are pleased to recognize your commitment and dedication as the Research Faculty Mentor of the Month.
Learn more about Dr. Chwatko: https://www.engr.uky.edu/directory/chwatko-gosia