{"id":1786,"date":"2025-06-25T14:11:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T18:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mse\/?p=1786"},"modified":"2025-07-28T17:01:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:01:08","slug":"mentoring-mindset-guides-zhuravlevas-work-at-ut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mse\/mentoring-mindset-guides-zhuravlevas-work-at-ut\/","title":{"rendered":"Mentoring Mindset Guides Zhuravleva\u2019s Work at UT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Associate Professor Mariya Zhuravleva initially wondered if recruiting freshmen and sophomores for research projects in her lab would be feasible since she thought they would be too busy with classes and not ready to assume more responsibilities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>But after a few years of only having upperclassmen in her lab, Zhuravleva realized she would need to adapt her strategy. Zhuravleva\u2019s research involving crystal growth is a slow process and requires patience. Giving younger students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) an earlier start in research would give them more time to learn and explore while allowing Zhuravleva to develop stronger relationships with them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI feel like they get more meaningful experiences through that, because they see the outcome of their work through the research results,\u201d Zhuravleva said. \u201cThey have less pressure than some seniors in terms of delivering goals on their research projects, and I have more opportunities to interact with them and teach them how to do research.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Zhuravleva was recently recognized for her positive influence on students. She received the Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year award at the Academic Honors Banquet hosted by the Office of the Provost in May.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIt was very unexpected. I didn’t know who nominated me and why, but I’m really happy to have been selected to receive this award,\u201d she said. \u201cNow it motivates me to put more work into mentoring, and recruit and mentor as many students as I can.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Zhuravleva joined the Scintillation Materials Research Center (SMRC) within the Tickle College of Engineering in 2009 as a postdoctoral research associate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThere were undergrad students in the lab, and I just immediately started advising them informally, and then more formally as I progressed to my faculty appointment,\u201d she said. \u201cI really took that as a priority in my job responsibilities.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Helping students grow<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Senior Megan Gillespie joined Zhuravleva\u2019s lab as a freshman aerospace engineering student to see if she was interested in switching her major to MSE, and if research was something she wanted to explore for a career. Under Zhuravleva\u2019s guidance in the lab, Gillespie discovered her love for both MSE and research.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cDr. Zhuravleva is such a good mentor because she pushes her students to do the best they can by providing opportunities for growth, such as conferences and poster competitions. But she doesn\u2019t micromanage and allows her students autonomy in their research,\u201d Gillespie said. \u201cShe provides a good general direction of where the research should be going, but it is up to the student to find the right path.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Zhuravleva\u2019s influence on her students extends from the lab into the classroom.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cShe is also a wonderful teacher and made thermodynamics easier to learn,\u201d Gillespie said. \u201cShe explains concepts thoroughly and ensures her student\u2019s understanding of the material.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Zhuravleva knew she wanted to become a teacher since her high school years growing up in Russia. Once she got to college, her own experiences and having influential mentors only strengthened her resolve.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t want to go to industry, because I felt like industry would be more isolated,\u201d Zhuravleva said. \u201cI really wanted to be surrounded by students, younger people, so I could inspire them in some way if I could and see them grow and learn and become successful.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zhuravleva receives fulfillment from watching the evolution of her students in college. It\u2019s rewarding for her to see the light bulb go off in their heads when they make connections in the lab or unearth new discoveries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really enjoy just discussing and conceptualizing the research project strategy approach with the students and seeing how they think, because they’re so creative,\u201d she said. \u201cThey really think outside the box sometimes. I really enjoy the process of strategizing the project and then following up with them and kind of seeing how we can adjust and make decisions.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact<\/h2>\n

Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683,\u00a0rpotkey@utk.edu<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Associate Professor Mariya Zhuravleva receives fulfillment from being a strong mentor for her students and research assistants in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1787,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[20],"class_list":["post-1786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty","tag-mariya-zhuravleva"],"yoast_head":"\nMentoring Mindset Guides Zhuravleva\u2019s Work at UT - Materials Science and Engineering<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Assistant Professor Mariya Zhuravleva receives fulfillment from being a strong mentor for her students and research assistants at MSE.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mse\/mentoring-mindset-guides-zhuravlevas-work-at-ut\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mentoring Mindset Guides Zhuravleva\u2019s Work at UT - 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