Since joining the Abel Lab, Antentor O. Hinton, Jr., PhD, has earned his fair share of mentorship and research awards. With three awards earned in just the past month, the postdoctoral research fellow proves he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Mayo Clinic Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowship
Hinton, who is currently a Burroughs Wellcome Fund and Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, has recently secured a Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow Appointment at Mayo Clinic, where he will conduct research in collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey Salisbury. Dr. Salisbury is a world-renowned cell biologist who runs Mayo’s Central Microscopy Core; under his mentorship, Hinton will advance his training in Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy Quantification.
UNCF Ernest E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship
In addition to the Mayo Clinic Visiting Postdoctoral Fellowship, UNCF and Bristol-Myers Squibb awarded the Ernest E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship in the Life Sciences to Hinton.
The E. E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship was named in honor of pioneering African 
American biologist, academic, and science writer Dr. Ernest Everett Just—one of the most prominent African American scientists of the twentieth century. The goal of the fellowship program is to transform the postgraduate training experience by accelerating the career development of African American scientists pursuing research careers in academic or biopharmaceutical industry research and development. Sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, the award supports the research and postgraduate training of African American scientists.
During his three-year fellowship, Hinton will be provided with a stipend, a research budget, and a travel award for research conferences totaling $156,750 each year. Notably, the E. E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship in the Life Sciences gives Hinton access to leading scientists as research mentors within his discipline, additional career and professional development services, and access to bio-entrepreneurship training.
UI Diversity Catalyst Award
Finally, in recognition of the inclusive community Hinton cultivates in the Abel Lab, the UI’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity in the Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has awarded him a 2019–2020 Diversity Catalyst Award.
The UI Diversity Catalyst Award honors faculty, staff, students, departments, programs, and student organizations who implement significant diversity initiatives that encourage inclusive communities on campus. As has often been documented in this space, Hinton has committed to recruiting and mentoring researchers from all walks of life. To honor his achievement, Hinton will receive $500 as well as an engraved Diversity Catalyst Award from the Office of Equal Opportunity & Inclusion.