HOUSTON (Diya TV) — An Indian-American biotechnologist has received the highest teaching award available from the University of Houston for her sustained and significant contributions to education.
Rupa Iyer, associate dean of the technology university’s research and graduate studies programs, has been presented with the Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award — it is the highest award attainable in teaching and the only one distributed at Iyer’s level.
“My journey from being an international graduate teaching assistant to having the privilege and honour to lead the biotech programme at UH has been extremely humbling and rewarding,” Iyer said.
“My students continue to inspire me and motivate me to seek new ideas and strategies to develop and foster their academic success,” she added.
In order to qualify for the honor, Iyer was first required to be a previous recipient of the school’s Teaching Excellence Award, an honor presented to faculty who have ten or more years of teaching experience and have made sustained and significant contributions to education.
The founding member of the school’s biotechnology program, Iyer has been widely regarded for her relentless commitment toward empowering her students, and incorporating a hands-on teaching experience with problem-based learning and lectures. Her students receive lecture format training on diverse biotechnology systems and develop presentation skills, enabling them to thrive in the workplace.
Iyer has been with the university since 2005 as a credentialed associate professor, and was named associate dean of research and graduate studies in 2014. Her research is in the area of environmental biotechnology with applications in bioremediation.
She was previously recommended for the Fulbright Specialist Roster in 2015 after receiving a ringing endorsement from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars.
