UW-Eau Claire’s Dr. Sanchita Hati earns national award for mentorship

Her collaborative research model, comparable to graduate-level programs at other institutions, has resulted in dozens of published, peer-reviewed journal articles with undergraduates as co-authors and has established a strong pipeline of students that have gone on to earn Ph.D.s and medical degrees at top-tier universities.

“Receiving this national award is a significant honor, and it truly means a great deal to me,” Hati says. “The supportive environment, resources and shared commitment to student success make my work possible. In that sense, this recognition belongs to the department as much as it does to me. I hope it will inspire all of us to continue doing our best for our students.”

Hati becomes the second UW-Eau Claire faculty member recognized for transformative mentoring and advising of undergraduates in mentor-led chemistry research projects, joining Dr. James Phillips’ award in 2020. She received UW-Eau Claire’s inaugural Career Excellence in Mentoring, in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Award in 2023, and has also earned faculty excellence and university merit awards in the last decade.

“Dr. Hati has demonstrated excellence in student-faculty collaborative research ever since she arrived on campus, and we are thrilled that her outstanding work as a mentor has been recognized by the Council on Undergraduate Research,” Interim Chancellor Michael J. Carney says. “Much of this recognition is based on Sanchita’s leadership on embedding undergraduate research into traditional courses, from introductory level labs to capstone experiences, which provides opportunities for more students to participate in the research process.”

Hati is currently mentoring 14 students across five different projects. Drawing from her own experiences with mentors, her style centers on treating students as collaborators so knowledge can be freely exchanged and important skills like problem-solving and critical thinking can be developed.

“I aim to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas and taking intellectual risks,” Hati says. “I focus on helping them build confidence as they take on assigned tasks, gradually develop ownership of their research projects and grow into independent researchers.”

In all, Hati has mentored 85 undergraduate students since 2006. Two of them, Bethany Laatsch and Dr. Lauren Adams, wrote letters of support for the CUR award because of their transformational experiences.

“She encouraged my growth as a researcher and was instrumental in setting me up for success in the next phase of my career,” says Laatsch, a chemistry graduate student at Northeastern University. “I could also see all the work that she did not just for me, but other students as well.”

“Professor Hati has spent her career mentoring UWEC students, providing them with invaluable opportunities to conduct research and develop transferable skills for their futures,” says Adams, who earned her Ph.D. in biological sciences from Northwestern University in 2022 and now serves as a scientist for Merck. “I’m excited to see her years of dedication and mentorship recognized with this award at the national level.”

Dr. Stephen Drucker, a professor in the chemistry and biochemistry department, has often witnessed his colleague’s office crowded with students and the walls outside it lined with research papers. He says it was easy to write the nomination letter for Hati, who is quiet by nature but excites others through chemistry.

“She’s got this continued presence,” Drucker says. “The students don’t always realize what they are getting in real time, but professor Hati is four steps ahead of where they are and she knows where they need to be four months from now. She knows exactly how to get them there.”

In his letter, Drucker emphasized Hati’s ability to maintain her classroom teaching responsibilities while directing research at a pace and depth typical of graduate programs.

“She has a knack for making the time,” says Drucker, who adds Hati often initiates productive conversations about chemistry at the end of the workday.

Hati employs her senior students to teach newer students, believing the educational process is not complete until you learn how to instruct others. In her lab, she pairs veterans with newcomers and asks students to engage in multiple projects.

Conversations and collaborations with current and former colleagues have helped refine Hati’s teaching and mentoring style. The department has a long-standing tradition of supporting undergraduate research, dating back to a time when such opportunities were uncommon across campus, and Hati is grateful to be part of such a strong culture.

Establishing a joint research group with her husband, Dr. Sudeep Bhattacharyay, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has helped six to eight students per semester investigate complex biophysical processes. The Hati-Bhattacharyay Research Group consistently publishes articles and participates in conferences.

“I could not have achieved what I have over the past 20 years at UWEC without Dr. Bhattacharyay’s constant collegial and intellectual support,” Hati says.

Hati is also appreciative of the staff in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for helping to secure internal and external funding to conduct authentic biophysical and biomedical research. For the past two decades, Hati's work has been predominantly supported by federal funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Erica Benson, executive director of ORSP, submitted Hati’s nomination for the CUR award and says the 85 students mentored are evidence that Hati does not just supervise undergraduate students in research, but “fosters their growth as confident scientists, independent thinkers and lifelong learners.”

Hati believes the national recognition will further motivate UW-Eau Claire to strengthen its tradition of collaborative faculty-student research and may enhance its ability to secure external funding. She knows working with undergraduate students brings her joy and fulfillment, and seeing their commitment and aspiration to excel provides her energy to keep moving forward.

“I am extremely proud of my students, both current and former,” Hati says. “Seeing them achieve their academic and professional goals is the greatest reward I could ask for as an educator and mentor.”