Romesh Batra, the Clifton C. Garvin Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics in the College of Engineering, has received the university’s 2016 Alumni Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising.

Established by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the Alumni Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising is presented annually by the Office of the Provost to Virginia Tech faculty members who have been particularly dedicated and effective while advising graduate students. Recipients are selected by a committee of former award winners, receive a $2,000 prize, and are inducted into the university’s Academy of Advising Excellence.

Since joining the Virginia Tech community in 1994, Batra has successfully advised 22 Ph.D. and 12 master’s degree students to completion. He is currently advising seven Ph.D. students.

His reputation as an excellent mentor exceeds the bounds of the United States, with 17 graduate students coming to the United States to conduct their dissertation research under his tutorship.

Batra goes beyond the expectations of a graduate advisor by facilitating networking opportunities for his advisees at National conferences, financially supporting their travel to conferences, encouraging them to visit laboratories in their fields of interest, and emphasizing the importance of communication and pedagogical skills. Under his tutorship, his advisees have received grants from the National Science Foundation, the Adhesion Society, the Department of Energy, and NASA.

“He prepares them well, guides them, encourages them, and helps them to grow and develop,” wrote Scott Hendricks, associate professor for the College of Engineering, in a letter of nomination.
Batra’s commitment to his advisees is reflected in the quality of their dissertation, awards they win, and success in their post-graduate careers.

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