Just over two years ago, graduate student Jonathan Bajko was one of the first Ph.D. students to join the research group of faculty member Joomyung “Vicky” Jun, who had just joined the Illinois Chemistry faculty.
“From day one, he had to be a mentor,” Jun wrote in her nomination of Bajko for a mentoring award. “Johnny has played a central role in creating both infrastructure and intellectual foundation in my lab.”
Bajko trained all members of the group on every instrument in the Jun lab—eight mentees and more than 10 instruments.
“Despite balancing coursework, TA responsibilities, and his own research, Johnny has never declined an opportunity to mentor... his patience, clarity, and enthusiasm are exceptional,” Jun wrote in her nomination.
Now a third-year graduate student, Bajko is the recipient of the 2026 Gary Schuster Mentoring Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.
The award was established by Dr. De-Kai Loo (PhD, ’87, Beak) and Dr. Jianjian Zhang (PhD, ’89, Schuster) in 2018 in honor of Gary Schuster, professor of chemistry at Illinois from 1975 to 1994. The scholarship recognizes graduate students who demonstrate outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students.
“I am truly honored and grateful to receive the Dr. Gary Schuster Mentoring Award,” Bajko said. “Mentoring undergraduate researchers has been a meaningful part of my graduate experience, and I sincerely appreciate the department’s support and recognition.”
He said he has benefited from several mentors, including his lacrosse coach, Zach Grusell, who instilled in him discipline and determination, and his undergraduate mentor, Matthew Hart, who introduced him to research and shaped his scientific goals, and now, Prof. Vicky Jun is helping him grow into an independent researcher.
“Each has played, and continues to play, a critical role in my development,” said Bajko, who is now enjoying the role of mentor.
“I enjoy helping students learn the principles of laboratory research and watching them grow into confident, independent scientists. I am eager to guide them as they develop the ability to troubleshoot challenges on their own. It is especially rewarding to see mentees build both their skills and confidence in a research setting,” Bajko said.
After he finishes his Ph.D., Bajko aspires to teach at a primarily undergraduate institution.
“I hope to inspire students to learn chemistry and apply it in meaningful ways. Mentoring and teaching are both central to my career goals, and I aim to help train the next generation of scientists,” said Bajko, who explained why mentoring is important. “It helps prepare the next generation of scientists to make meaningful contributions to the world. By guiding and supporting students early in their development, we can foster curiosity, build confidence, and empower them to pursue impactful work.”