The University of Iowa Council on Teaching has selected Arran Gross to receive the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.

Gross, a graduate research and teaching assistant in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, will receive $1,000 in recognition of the award. 

These awards have been given annually since 1988 to a select group of graduate teaching assistants who have effectively promoted learning and creativity both inside and outside the classroom while demonstrating enthusiasm and dedication to student success.

In the award citation, Bruce H. Nottingham-Spencer, Chair of the Council on Teaching said, "Your philosophy of teaching and learning, your classroom evaluations, and the strong support you garnered from students and faculty stood out among the many superb candidates this year and clearly demonstrated your excellence in teaching."

Gross is currently working with Professor Hai Fu to identify and characterize pairs of active nuclei in merging galaxies. He has also worked with Professor Phil Kaaret to study the X-ray variability of the black holes in the irregular galaxy Haro 11.

Gross is a Graduate Student Senate representative,  a Graduate Student Advisory Committee member, and a graduate student mentor.

For more information, see this Iowa Now article on the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards.