Andrew Hope and Erin Frenk honored for outstanding contributions to mentorship and research

At K-State, faculty and students play a crucial role in the development of research that will better our community, state and world. Through faculty and undergraduate collaboration, K-State is a driving force in innovation and preparation of the next generation of researchers.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to faculty-student research, Andrew Hope, associate professor of biology, and Erin Frenk, a senior in chemistry, have earned this year’s University Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research and University Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Student in Research, respectively.

Andrew Hope inspires students to pursue biology, ecology research

Hope currently runs a research program focused on understanding the evolutionary and ecological responses of biodiversity to environmental change. He oversees several students working on a variety of projects spanning ecology, evolution and human health related to zoonotic disease.

Hope’s dedication and mentorship play a significant role in the development of undergraduate researchers and scholarly activities. His work directly supports the professional development of undergraduate students through field expeditions to collect samples, lab exercises to analyze sample data, and specimen processing and preservation. Hope has also co-authored multiple manuscripts that include substantial undergraduate contributions in peer-reviewed publications in leading journals in ecology and evolution.

One of Hope’s most notable contributions is the establishment and maintenance of the Kansas State Biorepository, a publicly accessible, digitized and research-ready biodiversity archive.

His “Carcass Club”, a sponsored K-State undergraduate society, engaged over 40 students last year from across the campus in learning and participating in specimen curation for the biorepository.

Hope is dedicated to recruiting undergraduate researchers and fostering an inclusive environment. He engages with the Developing Scholars Program and the national McNair Scholars Program, which serve diverse student populations.

“Dr. Hope’s eagerness to see students succeed goes far beyond formal expectations,” said Sam Speck, senior in conservation biology. “He regularly connects students with funding opportunities, conference presentations and professional networks, and he does so with genuine enthusiasm and generosity. His unwavering dedication to teaching, mentorship and student development distinguishes him from all the professors I have worked with.”

Erin Frenk's undergraduate research investigates potential of nanoporous materials

Frenk began her research journey at a very early stage in her undergraduate career. As a freshman, she became involved in advanced independent research working in the laboratory of professor Takashi Ito.

Frenk’s research focuses on using graphene oxide, or GO, membranes for electrochemical separation of rare earth elements, or REEs. REEs are a critical piece in modern technologies, but their separation is difficult and requires multistep chemical processes that are costly, inefficient and environmentally damaging.

As an undergraduate researcher, Frenk has developed significantly more reliable methods for fabricating and characterizing GO films and investigated chemical factors that influence selectivity. Her combined research improves the efficiency and sustainability of REE separations. Christer Aakeröy, head of department and Taylor Chair in chemistry, praised the impact of Frenk’s research.

“By improving GO film reproducibility, developing new electrochemical characterization methods and establishing structure–function relationships governing ion uptake and selectivity, her work contributes fundamental insight with clear implications for sustainable rare earth recovery technologies," said Aakeröy.

Frenk’s work earned her the title of 2025 Goldwater Scholar and a competitive summer research appointment at Argonne National Laboratory.

“I have had the privilege of mentoring multiple Goldwater Scholars during my time at K-State,” Aakeröy said. “I would unhesitatingly place Erin among the very best of them in terms of research independence, work ethic, creativity and problem-solving ability.”