“I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” says Obst-Huebl. “I take mentoring very seriously and have benefited greatly from outstanding mentors along my career path, and I am more than happy to pay it forward.”

She adds, “I probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for such mentoring.”

Over the past few years, Obst-Huebl has mentored research assistants, Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) students, and Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) scholars. The SULI and SCGSR programs are managed by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) in collaboration with the DOE National Laboratories.

“While mentoring can be a significant investment of time,” she says, “it’s an investment in the future workforce and success of the Lab, so it’s important for me to contribute to that workforce and diversify it too.”

Along with fellow recipients Antoine Wojdyla and Bjoern Lehnert, she was honored at the in-person Outstanding Mentor & Volunteer Recognition Event on October 3 at the Lab’s main site.

Obst-Huebl is co-supervising two graduate students, Anthony Vazquez and Jared De Chant, and a research assistant, Thien Kim Le.

“Congratulations to Lotti [Lieselotte] on this recognition of her great talent and enthusiasm for mentoring young scientists as part of her leading-edge research,” said ATAP Director Cameron Geddes. “Her efforts in enabling future contributions to science from people who might not otherwise have that opportunity are much appreciated.”