PTYS graduate student Rob Zellem is the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for Spring 2012. Rob earned the award for his work as a GTA for Professor Peter Smith's PTYS 214 (Astrobiology) course. The student nomination forms cited Rob for well prepared lectures, for setting up telescope nights, for making complex concepts easy to understand, and for making learning fun. Rob worked closely with Peter Smith to design the two midterm exams and was proactive in asking for opportunities to teach the class. Peter writes that, "Rob has the ability to...push students to see the underlying principles that make life possible on Earth and that would be required for life elsewhere."

Recipients of the Outstanding GTA Award receive funds of up to $1,000 to support travel to a professional meeting of their choice. Congratulations, Rob!