Across the nomination letters, Harris is described as a mentor whose impact reaches far beyond research advising. Students and colleagues describe someone who helps mentees grow as scholars, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and pursue careers that reflect their own values and ambitions.

Supporting Students as Individuals

One of the qualities that stands out most clearly in Harris’s mentorship is the way he supports students as individuals. Rather than expecting everyone to follow the same path, he encourages students to develop their own ideas, pursue their own interests, and define success for themselves. 

Jack-William Barotta, a doctoral candidate in Engineering, described that openness, “He encouraged me to share both solutions and areas where I felt stuck, allowing me the time and freedom to explore challenging questions and pursue new paths that aligned with my interests, even if they diverged from his initial vision for the project.”

That same support extends to career choices. Barotta wrote that Harris respected his career interests and actively helped him prepare for by encouraging teaching, outreach, and mentoring opportunities. In Barotta's account, that support was instrumental in helping him secure a faculty position at Olin College of Engineering.

A Mentor Who Gives His Time Fully

Again and again, the letters return to the same point: Harris is present. Kenny Breuer, Professor of Engineering describes how Harris meets with his research group regularly, one on one and in small groups. "Dan Harris sets the standard for graduate student advising and mentoring," Breuer writes. "He is dedicated, energetic, caring and approachable."

Thomas R. Powers, Professor of Engineering and Physics, similarly described Harris as highly engaged, responsive, and thoughtful in his guidance. He noted that Harris meets regularly with students, provides timely feedback, and creates a welcoming atmosphere that encourages questions and independent problem-solving without micromanaging. His investment extends beyond his own lab as well, through graduate advising, recruitment, and mentoring students in the broader fluid mechanics community.

"He listens to students, respects their diverse experiences and goals, and provides clear guidance while fostering their independence," Powers writes. "He is deeply invested in their success, not only as researchers but also as developing professionals navigating their future careers."

Building a Lab Where Kindness and Excellence Coexist

Just as striking as Harris’s individual mentorship is the culture he has built in his lab. Students describe an environment shaped by curiosity, kindness, and mutual respect, where they feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and admitting when they are stuck. Barotta captured that culture succinctly: “Dan has demonstrated that it is possible to produce high-impact research without relying on stressful or competitive work conditions. A lab built on kindness and respect can still produce high-quality work.”

That environment has helped produce impressive outcomes, including major publications, conference honors, and strong placements in academia and industry. But for those who nominated him, Harris’s deeper achievement is the community he has created, a lab where students are supported as people as well as researchers, and where rigor and generosity are understood to go hand in hand.

Harris himself reflected on that community in accepting the award: "I am very grateful to the many students who I have had the opportunity to work with over the years at Brown, and for the supportive community they have helped foster within our lab. It is a deeply meaningful honor to receive this recognition."

Faculty members Erica Larschan, Daniel Harris, Stephen Bush, and Holly Case receive the Graduate School’s Faculty Award for Advising & Mentoring at the University Awards Ceremony on April 29, 2026.