Vinoy Thomas, Ph.D., was recently awarded the 2026 UAB Graduate Dean’s Excellence in Mentorship Award in a ceremony at the UAB National Alumni Society House. This annual award recognizes full-time, regular UAB faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments as mentors of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Awards are based solely on demonstrated excellence in mentoring, as evidenced by one or more of the following:
- Inspiring and motivating students and postdoctoral fellows in the pursuit of research, grant funding, and scholarly publication
- Promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct and professional integrity
- Fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating training environment
- Cultivating a commitment to lifelong learning and continuous professional development
- Supporting mentees’ individual career goals with openness, respect, and adaptability Serving as an exemplary role model through excellence in scholarship, service, and leadership
Thomas is an associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at UAB. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, authored over two dozen book chapters, and co-edited three books. A life member of the Alabama Academy of Sciences and its former president, he serves on the editorial boards of several journals in polymers, nanotechnology, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and materials science.
Thomas has mentored students from K–12 through postdoctoral levels, including nine PhD students, 26 master’s students, 57 undergraduates, and nine high school students, and has co-advised three additional PhD students. His mentees have received major honors, including Outstanding Graduate Student awards and federal fellowships from NSF, NASA, and NIH. Beyond his direct mentorship, he has contributed to more than 50 dissertation committees across UAB and other Alabama institutions, supporting students in engineering, physics, dentistry, and public health.
One of his nominators shared, “Beyond the classroom, Dr. Thomas actively creates opportunities for students to grow through outreach and mentorship activities. He regularly involves his research group in initiatives such as the McWane Science Center outreach events, Society of Plastic Engineers UAB chapter industrial visits, the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, and the CORD program for high school students. Through these programs, I had the opportunity to mentor CORD students, which strengthened my leadership and mentoring abilities. These experiences highlight Dr. Thomas’s philosophy that mentorship extends beyond research training and should inspire the next generation of scientists.”
Visit the UAB Graduate School website to read about all of the 2026 recipients