Dr. Robby Bowles has been named BME’s 2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor award winner.
Dr. Bowles joined the BME faculty in 2014. Since that time, he has mentored 21 undergraduate students each of whom receive their own research project, attend lab meetings, and present their results to obtain feedback on their research and presentation skills. These students learn valuable research and scientific capabilities under Dr. Bowles’ mentorship and many have gone on to accomplish further academic achievements such as presenting at international conferences and annual university events, and enter graduate schools.
One recent BME undergraduate student from the Bowles lab, Brynne Byars, won the 2025 University of Utah Technology Licensing Office’s “Excellence in Innovation Undergraduate Student Award.” His undergraduates have contributed to 20 international conference abstracts as co-authors and 5 peer-reviewed published Bowles research manuscripts, naming these undergraduates as co-authors.
Dr. Bowles currently serves as Associate Chair of the Graduate Program and Director of Graduate Studies in BME. Moreover, he has consistently contributed to the research and growth of BME with a total aggregate submitted research proposal value of over $16 million in 2025. He has two major NIH and one NSF award that he uses to support 8 undergraduates, 7 graduate students and 2 postdoctoral trainees. This research support has been productive, allowing the Bowles lab to publish 25 peer-reviewed full publications and 74 peer-reviewed conference proceedings during his faculty career at the University of Utah.
Dr. Bowles has set the bar for quality student mentorship high. The department is pleased to recognize to award him this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor award. Congratulations Dr. Bowles!