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Daniel Lysak, a PhD student in the department of physical and environmental sciences at U of T Scarborough, has been recognized with a .

The annual prize, valued at $25,000, is awarded by the Faculty of Arts & Science to a PhD student whose academic excellence is matched by their contributions to the community.

Lysak's research involves using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study environmental stress at the molecular level. The author of several groundbreaking articles, he has also been a longtime advocate for graduate students.

“Daniel has been working on some of the most challenging interdisciplinary research and his efforts have consistently led to world-class publications,” says his doctoral supervisor, Professor Andre Simpson.

The recipient of numerous academic awards, Lysak says the Dean's Doctoral Excellence Scholarship is particularly meaningful given the often solitary nature of his work. “Graduate school involves a lot of independent work,” he says. “It is often hard to tell if you are doing a good job, which leads to self-doubt and a kind of mental struggle. So an award like this is very encouraging, and it’s truly a great honour."