David Vorp receives 2025 Provost’s Award for Doctoral Mentoring

As the John A. Swanson Professor of Bioengineering at the Swanson School of Engineering, David Vorp is widely recognized for his pioneering research in the Vascular Biomechanics Laboratory. This spring, however, he's being honored for something more personal — his excellence in doctoral mentoring. 

The Provost’s Award for Doctoral Mentoring recognizes Vorp’s commitment to mentoring and working with doctoral students to achieve their goals with scientific freedom, rigor, and integrity. Vorp’s doctoral students have gone on to become principal scientists in both industry and clinical settings, establish careers in data and research, and become faculty members, academic and industry administrators, and co-founders of innovative companies. Vorp received his BS (‘86) and PhD (‘92) in Mechanical Engineering, and while he’s been mentoring doctoral students for more than 30 years, Vorp still largely credits his own mentors for his and his students’ success. 

"Mentoring isn’t something you do alone or learn overnight—it comes from experience and having great mentors oneself. I've had tremendous mentors and I give so much of the credit of this recognition to them. Given the multidisciplinary nature of my lab’s work, mentoring takes a village,” Vorp said. “This award is such an incredible honor that I never expected I would receive.” 

Vorp currently serves as the Swanson School’s Senior Associate Dean for Research & Facilities, and also acknowledges assistance from staff and faculty co-mentors in his group for the success of his students. Recipients of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring receive a cash prize of $2,500 and will be recognized at an event on March 26, 2025.