Yasamin Heydary, a PhD in Pharmacological Sciences student, has been honored as the graduate student recipient of the 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Mentoring of Undergraduate Research for the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. The award, presented by the UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), recognizes graduate students who champion undergraduate research and are mentors to young researchers. Heydary was nominated for the award by her students.
“Yasamin’s outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students reflects her deep commitment to training the next generation of scientists. Yasamin consistently provides thoughtful guidance, helping junior trainees build both technical skills and scientific confidence. I am very proud to have her as a colleague in the laboratory and am thankful to UROP for recognizing Yasamin with this well-deserved honor,” shared Dr. Shahrdad Lotfipour, principal investigator of the Lotfipour Lab, where Heydary serves as a graduate student researcher.
“My research investigates how a specific human genetic variation influences nicotine sensitivity and addiction vulnerability during adolescence. I use rat models with this single nucleotide polymorphism to examine its impact on gene expression in the reward-related regions of the brain in response to nicotine,” she explained. “The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of nicotine use and identify potential therapeutic targets for personalized interventions.”
Heydary’s award was presented at the UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium. This annual event provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to showcase their research and honors the faculty members and graduate student mentors, like Heydary, who help to foster an interest in research among undergraduates.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive this award,” she said. “Guiding undergraduate students as they start their research journeys is a deeply rewarding experience. This award strengthens my dedication to creating a supportive and creative research environment for my undergraduate students to keep growing, achieve their goals, and build a foundation for their future careers.”
For current or incoming undergraduate students who are interested in research, Heydary advises taking the initiative to get involved in research you would like to pursue.
“My advice is to be curious, persistent, and proactive — don’t be afraid to reach out to professors whose research interests you. Be prepared to learn, and don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Most importantly, find a supportive mentor who is willing to guide you through your research journey,” she expressed. “I’m incredibly thankful for my undergraduate students, whose curiosity inspires me daily, and my own mentors, whose guidance was key in teaching me how to be the mentor I aspire to be.”
