Research@UIC > Researcher of the Year Award

UIC RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD - 2011

• Award Description
• Awards
• Eligibility Criteria
• Deadlines
• Nomination Process
• Nomination Materials
• Submission Instructions
• Selection Process
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Past Award Recipients

Award Description

The University of Illinois at Chicago is a leading research university located in the heart of one of the world’s great cities.  UIC has a long-standing tradition of research excellence.  It is one of only 108 Carnegie classified “Research Universities with very high research activity” (RU/VH) in the United States, and one of but four Illinois universities to be honored with this distinction

The purpose of the UIC Researcher of the Year Award is to recognize the efforts and commitment of those researchers who are advancing the knowledge in their area of scholarship and to inspire and promote continued excellence in research at UIC.  The Award will be given to four (4) UIC researchers who have demonstrated outstanding research achievements in their field of expertise. One awardee will be selected from each of the following categories:

• Basic Life Sciences
• Clincal Sciences
• Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Social Sciences and Humanities

Awards

Each honoree will receive a one-time $5,000 prize and a commemorative award, which will be presented at a ceremony in their honor. A list of past recipients can be found at http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/research/events/RYA/winners.html

Eligibility Criteria

1. Open to all faculty (i.e. tenured, tenure-track, research-track, clinical-track) with a full-time appointment at UIC.  For the purpose of this award, appointments at the VA are included if the VA and UIC appointments equal 100%.
2. Must have made a significant contribution within the last three (3) years in one of the four categories of research listed above.
3. Nominations of faculty who have led successful team collaborations are eligible provided s/he made a significant contribution to the project’s scientific accomplishment.  In exceptional cases, two investigators can be co-nominated for this award. 

Deadlines

• Application: Friday, November 4, 2011, noon
• Awards announced: December, 2011
• Award Ceremony: February 8, 2012

Nomination Process

Nominations can be submitted by anyone from the UIC community who is knowledgeable about a successful UIC researcher.  Self-nominations will be accepted.

Nomination Materials

1. Completed UIC Researcher of the Year Award Cover Page Form.

2. A narrative statement describing the significance of the nominee’s research accomplishment(s) within the last three (3) years and the impact or contribution this has made in their field of research.  This statement should be no more than two (2) pages in length, single-spaced, 12 point font, with 1-inch margins.

3. Nominee’s curriculum vitae or resume.  Items to include as appropriate to the nominee’s field of research: a list of completed, current and pending extramural research support with a 1-2 sentence description – including total project cost – of each research project and the nominee’s role in the project (i.e. principal investigator, co-principal investigator); presentation of research in professional settings such as a conference speaker or lecturer (please indicate keynote, plenary, or invited); and/or a list of relevant publications (within the past 10 years).  There is no limit to the number of pages allowed for the resume/CV.

4. Two (2) letters of support from individuals other than the nominator. The support letters must be from individuals within the candidate’s field but can be internal or external to UIC.  Each letter of support should be no more than two (2) pages in length, single-spaced, 12 point font, with 1-inch margins.

5. OPTIONAL - No more than (5) pages of other materials supporting the candidate's achievements, such as professional articles and press clippings

Submission Instructions

All nominations must be submitted electronically by the deadline. Please combine all nomination materials – including the cover page – into a single PDF file and email to royawards@uic.edu.

Selection Process

The Campus Research Board will review nominations and make recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Research based on the following selection criteria:

1. Extent to which nominee’s recent research charts (or has the potential to chart) significant advances to the field (i.e. new innovation, discovery, or methodology);

2. Extent to which nominee’s recent research has been recognized by colleagues in national and/or international venues such as professional conferences or symposia (i.e. presented, cited, or invited to keynote);

3. Extent to which nominee’s recent research has contributed (or has the potential to contribute) applications beyond research journals and academia (such as impact to society directly);

4. Extent to which letters of support reflect a significant impact of the nominee’s research contributions in the respective field of research

For questions, please contact Tony Halford at 6-7036 or royawards@uic.edu.

Last updated: Thursday, January 12, 2012.