Assistant Professor Nancy Diaz-Elsayed receives the Faculty Mentor of the Year Award from Florida Undergraduate Research Association Board member David Reamer.
By Ann Comer-Woods, USF Research & Innovation
Nancy Diaz-Elsayed, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Florida, has been named the 2025 Faculty Mentor of the Year by the Florida Undergraduate Research Association. She received the award during the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference opening ceremony on Friday, February 14 at the USF Marshall Student Center.
“It is so rewarding to see undergraduate students that I have worked with over several years grow in their ability to re-shape their research pathway as they dive deeper into the literature and start experimenting,” Diaz-Elsayed said. “They begin to take more ownership over their projects and build confidence in their ability to tackle major research problems.”
Diaz-Elsayed leads the Smart and Sustainable Systems Laboratory (S3 Lab) where her research group applies data-driven methods and leverages IoT technologies to enable the design of sustainable systems. Her projects have spanned discrete and continuous processes, including tool condition monitoring for CNC machining, the characterization of health monitoring capabilities for production equipment, the sustainable design of integrated wastewater management systems and the development of a digital twin for remote energy monitoring.
“Professor Diaz-Elsayed’s mentorship has been truly inspirational, shaping not only my research skills but also my confidence as an undergraduate student,” said Brinley Jordan, a mechanical engineering major who nominated Diaz-Elsayed for the award and is presenting a research project at this weekend’s FURA conference. “Her unwavering support, visionary leadership and commitment to fostering an inclusive and thriving research community have empowered me to achieve milestones I could have never imagined, such as presenting at research conferences and pursuing publication.”
“Brinley is such a wonderful example of a mentee that any mentor would be fortunate to work with,” Diaz-Elsayed said. “She has developed strong skill sets in mechanical engineering during her time at USF and brings a refreshing creativity and drive to our team. It has been such an honor to see her grow as an increasingly independent researcher.”
“I nominated Dr. Diaz-Elsayed for the FURA Faculty Mentor of the Year because she embodies what it means to be an exceptional mentor—one who not only teaches but inspires, uplifts and instills the belief that success is within reach for every student she guides,” Jordan said.