Nature Recognizes LSU Boyd Professor Isiah Warner for Mentorship
01/08/2019

With LSU Boyd Professor Isiah Warner's leadership, LSU has mentored countless numbers of students from the high school to doctoral levels and has become the leading producer of doctoral degrees in chemistry for African Americans in the U.S. Warner has been selected by Nature for recognition of his mentorship.
Photo Credit: LSU.
BATON ROUGE – Nature, the leading, international weekly journal of science has selected
LSU Boyd Professor Isiah Warner for the Nature Award for Mentoring in Science. The
Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science were founded in 2005 to celebrate mentorship,
a crucial component of scientific career development that too often goes overlooked
and unrewarded. Through Warner’s leadership and mentorship, the LSU Department of
Chemistry has become the leading producer of doctoral degrees in chemistry for African
Americans in the U.S. Under his direction, the LSU Office of Strategic Initiatives
has mentored countless numbers of students across eight programs from the high school
to doctoral levels.
“I am delighted at the achievements of our awards winners, including Dr. Warner, and
I am especially delighted this year at the diversity of their experiences and of their
commitments to mentoring. I know that the judges had a strong field of applicants.
It’s terrific for Nature to be able to celebrate researchers who have been so outstanding
in their encouragement of a strong scientific ethos in those who come after them,”
said Sir Philip Campbell, editor-in-chief of Springer Nature.
Warner is considered one of the world’s experts in analytical applications of fluorescence
spectroscopy. His research aims to develop and apply chemical, instrumental and mathematical
measurements to solve fundamental questions in chemistry.
Warner has recently been recognized as the 2016 SEC Professor of the Year, member
of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors,
American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry and American Association for
Advancement of the Sciences. He also received the Presidential Award for Excellence
in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from President Clinton and the American
Chemical Society Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into the Sciences.
“Dr. Warner’s dedication to teaching, service and research embodies the LSU mission.
We congratulate him on this international recognition,” said LSU President F. King
Alexander.
Warner is also the Phillip W. West Professor of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Professor at LSU and has achieved the highest professorial rank in the LSU system
— LSU Boyd Professor.
Each year, Nature gives the awards in a different geographical region, and this year’s
awards honor excellent mentors in the South of the United States. Awardees are nominated
by a group of their former trainees, from different stages of the mentor’s professional
life; and the winners of the awards have demonstrated outstanding mentorship throughout
their careers.
A special reception with executives from Nature will be held for Warner on Monday,
Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. at the French House located in the LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors
College.
Additional Links:
The Chemistry of Diversity: https://www.lsu.edu/research/news/2019/0108-warnerimpact.php
Q&A: LSU Boyd Professor Isiah Warner: https://www.lsu.edu/research/news/2019/0114-warner_interview.php
Contact Alison Satake
LSU Media Relations
225-578-3870
asatake@lsu.edu