2025 Award: Nora Jaber

Nora Jaber, a PhD student in Biochemistry and researcher in Dr. Wei Dai’s Lab, has been honored with the 2025 Student Leadership Award. As a senator in the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies and a member of the ABIDE Committee, she advocates for policies that promote an welcoming academic environment. Nora mentors underrepresented groups in STEM through initiatives like the Research Intensive Summer Experience (RISE) and the 4-H STEM Ambassador program, where she engages middle and high school students from various backgrounds in scientific topics. She also won a travel grant and presented her work at the 2024 SACNAS National STEM Conference in Phoenix, where she represented Rutgers and support student recruitment. In leadership roles, Nora served as president of the Molecular Biosciences Graduate Student Organization (MBGSO), organizing events to enhance the graduate student experience, and as a key member of the Rutgers chapter of Seeding Labs, supporting equitable access to resources for future scientific leaders. Nora’s commitment to mentorship makes her a standout leader in both her academic and outreach efforts.