This person began their faculty career in 2018 and has already supervised over 30 trainees. They are particularly dedicated to undergraduate mentorship and ensuring equity in student access to research experiences. In addition to their lab mentorship, they are actively involved in the organization Graduate Women in Science. Their mentorship skills were recognized in part with their receipt of an NIH R15 Academic Research Enhancement Award.

Her nominees can best speak to her mentorship and we share their voices here:

• “She ensured that I was challenged yet supported, fostering my independence, enhancing my technical skills, and teaching me effective communication with a principal investigator.”

• “She was the first faculty I worked with that showed me what tenacity was.”

• “Working [in their] research lab was a transformative experience and uniquely prepared me for my doctoral coursework. [They] cultivated an environment of learning and growth that was individually tailored to each researcher’s needs and project(s).

• “Aside from her unwavering encouragement in my current lab position, she has gone out of her way to help prepare me for my future academic roles and show me how to navigate the next steps of my career.”

She is an Associate Professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology where she directs the Music Cognition and Aesthetics Laboratory.

Congratulations to 2024 SMPC Mentorship Award recipient, Amy Belfi.

• As read by Miriam Lense at the 2024 SMPC Meeting