I School Ph.D. student Emma Lurie is the recipient of a 2022 Outstanding Graduate Student Peer Mentor Award from the UC Berkeley Graduate Division and Graduate Assembly.
The UC Berkeley Outstanding Graduate Student Peer Mentor Award honors Berkeley graduate and professional students who have shown an outstanding commitment to mentoring, advising, and generally supporting either undergraduate students or their fellow graduate students.
Lurie was nominated by three of her undergraduate research assistants Chithra Anand, Vyoma Raman, and Anna Gueorguieva, as well as several I School Ph.D. students. With Lurie’s support, the undergraduate data science student’s project “Evaluating Bias in Election-Related Google Search Results” won the Ribbon of Excellence at the Data Science Discovery Showcase.
At the School of Information, Lurie studies the intersection of technology, society, and democracy. Specifically, she examines how technology platforms are reshaping trust in democratic institutions and processes. She completed her undergraduate education at Wellesley College, where she says she benefited from an empowering and collaborative culture, and faculty and peer mentorship.
“Mentorship from high school science teachers, debate team coaches, college professors, research lab mates, and the I School Ph.D. student community has been integral to my development as a person and researcher,” said Lurie, when asked why she gives her time to mentorship. “At the I School, I continue to benefit enormously from the mentorship of many people, including Professor Deirdre Mulligan, Professor Coye Cheshire, Anne Jonas (Ph.D. ’21), Elizabeth Resor (Ph.D. student), and the Doctoral Theory and Research Workshop.”
“As a prospective Ph.D. student, I was drawn to the I School’s supportive environment,” Lurie continued. “In part, I view peer mentorship as part of being a good community member as an I School Ph.D. student. I also recognize how fortunate I have been to receive so much support from mentors and try to pass it on where I can.”
Lurie’s nominees expressed the many specific ways they have benefited from her generosity, support, and expertise. Raman said Lurie helped her navigate the life cycle of the academic research process. Raman learned from Lurie everything from how to identify appropriate methods to use in research to how to write research papers.
“I cannot imagine a better candidate for this award than Emma,” wrote Raman in her nomination letter. “[She] empowered me to learn about research, develop domain knowledge, grow professionally, and be resilient through difficulties. Emma has gone above and beyond what her role as a P.I. required of her, being very generous with her time and continuing to be a resource to us even after the project ended.”
Mulligan, Lurie’s Ph.D. advisor, said Lurie’s efforts to build an equitable and inclusive community have benefitted the entire I School.
“The letters from her peers and undergraduate mentees shared detailed accounts of Emma’s outstanding mentoring and the effect it had on their development as researchers and the sense of community at the I School,” said Mulligan. “As her advisor, I am grateful for the benefits Emma has provided other students and our community, and for the insights I’ve gained by watching her in action.”
Lurie will be honored at the Graduate Mentoring Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 20, 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Anna Head Alumnae Hall.
