Research@UIC > Researcher of the Year Award > FAQS

Researcher of the Year Award: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of research studies or projects are eligible for this award?

A: Since there are four categories for this Award, eligible research activities will correspond to each respective category. For example, under the Social Sciences and Humanities, eligible research activities can include but are not limited to being a principal investigator on a grant-funded research study or project, an author of a scholarly publication such as a book, an exhibition, or a performance. In addition to a research activity or project, please keep in mind additional selection criteria include demonstrating a record of commitment to research and an extensive contribution to the respective field of research. And so, this Award looks not only at the impact of a specific research activity but also the overall contribution of research to a particular field over the course of a researcher's career.

Q: I am not sure which of the four categories I should submit my application under – can the selection committee make the determination for me?

A: No. You know your research best and are the only one who can make that determination. The Researcher of the Year Award has four categories – Social Sciences and Humanities, Natural Sciences and Engineering, Clinical Sciences, and Basic Life Sciences. Some disciplines are pretty straightforward – for example, proposals from the Political Science field would be submitted under the Social Sciences and Humanities category. However, sometimes applications from certain disciplines could potentially be submitted under multiple categories. In cases where a project doesn’t fit neatly into any one category, your decision should be guided by your research methodology. You must choose only 1 (one) category.

Q: I need to turn in my application late. Is this possible?

A: As much as we try to be flexible, allowing some to submit late applications would not be fair to the others who turn in their applications on time. Typically, applications submitted past the deadline tend to have many omissions and proofreading errors. These proposals end up receiving poor scores that probably are not reflective of the actual quality of your work.

Q: Where should I send my Researcher of the Year Award Application?

A: Your application should be sent electronically to rds@uic.edu, with a subject line of “Researcher of the Year Award Nomination.” Please remember to send all the nomination materials in one single PDF file. In addition, please remember to complete the Award cover page and click SUBMIT. This will send the coverpage to rds@uic.edu separately.

Q: Who should I contact with questions regarding this Award?

A: Please contact Tony Halford, Office of Research Development Services, at ahalford@uic.edu or at 312.996.7036.