Annually, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in the Wayne State University Graduate School grants three $1,000 postdoctoral awards designed to acknowledge the efforts of those who go above and beyond in demonstrating academic excellence. 

Awardees in the research and service categories are self-nominated. Awardees in the mentorship category are nominated by postdoctoral fellows. All are selected by a committee of Pathway to Faculty fellows from various fields of science.

Congratulations to the following 2025 recipients!

Postdoctoral Trainee Research Award

Presented annually to one postdoctoral trainee at Wayne State University who has shown outstanding promise in scientific research. 

Karolina Nowak, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine

Nowak studies reproductive biology and investigates the epigenetic effects of environmental exposures on sperm with the goal of developing novel, epigenetic-based markers of infertility under the mentorship of Professor J. Richard Pilsner, Ph.D. 

Her work on the epigenetic effects of phthalate exposure has resulted in a first-author publication in Environment International, and a second is currently under review. 

Recognition from the scientific community has led to Nowak’s selection for oral presentations at two local and one national conferences, resulting in second prize at the MARTS conference and a main stage presentation at the 50th Annual Conference of the American Society of Andrology (ASA). 

Notably, Nowak has also developed the Sperm Fertility Index (SFI), a machine-learning model that predicts couples’ time to pregnancy using sperm DNA methylation at 123 sites, demonstrating significant predictive power. The findings have been incorporated as preliminary data in a NIH grant application (PI: J.R. Pilsner). 

“It means so much that my hard work has been recognized by the Postdoctoral Awards Committee,” Nowak said. “I view this award as validation of the critical need for continuing research in the field of male fertility and the contribution of paternal factors to reproductive success. Furthermore, this recognition demonstrates the exceptional mentorship of Dr. Pilsner and the supportive environment that he and the entire scientific community at the C.S. Mott Center cultivate for the training of young researchers such as myself.”

Postdoctoral Trainee Service Award

Presented annually to one postdoctoral trainee at Wayne State University who has provided exceptional service to Wayne State and the surrounding community. 

Clara Zundel, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine

At Wayne State, Zundel has served as a mentor to undergraduates in programs such as ReBUILD and UROP, served as administrator for the Postdoctoral Association (PDA) to create and foster a collaborative environment, and has delivered seminars to current Ph.D. students on how to navigate the postdoctoral process. 

She is a participant in the Environment, Resilience, and Development Research Interest Group at CURES, contributing to interdisciplinary research on environmental health challenges affecting urban populations. 

Zundel has communicated her research on the mental health effects of environmental hazards to lawmakers through policy advocacy groups such as the Society for Neuroscience, where she served as an Early Career Policy Ambassador, and Science Policy Network - Detroit, where she currently serves as an executive board member. 

In 2024, she led a group of 18 scientists on a Capitol Hill trip in Washington D.C., advocating for increased scientific funding (NIH, NSF), environmental justice, and maternal health care bills. 

In the community, Zundel promotes STEM education at Warren Woods Middle and Anchor Bay High schools where she delivers “Research Teach-Ins” that incorporate hands-on activities. She regularly participates in career fairs, engaging students in discussions about scientific research, engages with local nonprofits, and organizes community service initiatives for her lab. 

“I’m so grateful for the service award and to have this kind of work recognized,” Zundel said. “I’ve always thought of service as more than just a section on my CV, it’s something I’ve really tried to integrate as a core principle in my career. For me, that includes science outreach, community engagement, and advocacy, all of which are deeply connected to how I approach being a researcher and community member. I care a lot about making science more accessible and using it to give back to the places where we live, work, and study, so this recognition really means a lot.”

Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentorship Award

Presented annually to one postdoctoral mentor at Wayne State University who has an excellent record in mentoring postdoctoral trainees.

Hilary Marusak, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, School of Medicine

Nominated by postdoctoral fellows Clara Zundel, Ph.D., and Alaina Jaster, Ph.D., Marusak has a long and distinguished record of mentoring students and postdoctoral researchers. She encourages her students to explore interests beyond traditional research, including science policy, advocacy, grant writing and mentoring. 

She cofounded SciPol-Detroit in 2020 with a few students to empower scientists to better communicate their science and advocate for funding and policy. Marusak persuaded Zundel to join the leadership team of SciPol-Detroit and supported her in applying as an Early Career Policy Ambassador for the Society for Neuroscience. Zundel credits Marusak’s mentorship with helping her successfully secure competitive fellowships and internal pilot awards for her independent research. 

Marusak encouraged Jaster to start her own podcast called Psychedelic Brain Science, helped her design and submit her own survey study, encouraged her to mentor junior trainees and present panel presentations. 

“I’m deeply honored to receive this mentorship award,” Marusak said. “This recognition means so much, especially as it came through a nomination by Dr. Clara Zundel, someone I’ve had the privilege of knowing and mentoring since her undergraduate years. Watching Clara grow into an exceptional scientist, leader, and now an outstanding mentor to her own students, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

“Mentorship is truly the best part of my job. It’s a joy to play a small role in shaping the next generation of researchers and physician-scientists, and I’m really grateful to be part of a community that values and invests in mentorship.”