Research@UIC > Researcher of the Year Award

UIC RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The UIC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research announces the UIC Researcher of the Year Award program. This program is intended to recognize and inspire commitment and innovation in research at UIC. Nominations for the UIC Researcher of the Year Award are now being accepted. Nominations can be submitted by anyone from the UIC community who is knowledgeable about a successful UIC researcher. Self-nominations will be accepted.

• Award Description
• Awards
• Eligibility Criteria
• Required Nomination Materials
• Optional Nomination Materials
• Submission Instructions
• Selection Process
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Reception Information UPDATED!
• 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.  One of only ninety-six Carnegie classified “Research Universities with very high research activity” (RU/VH) in the nation, and one of only four universities in the state to receive this distinction, there is a long-standing tradition of excellence in research here at UIC. 

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 expertise and to inspire and promote continued excellence in research at UIC.

The UIC Researcher of the Year 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 four categories of research: Social Sciences and Humanities, Natural Sciences and Engineering, Clinical Sciences, and Basic Life Sciences.

Awards

Each Researcher of the Year Award recipient will receive:

• A one-time $3,500 cash award;

• A Commemorative Award;

• Their name on the “Researcher of the Year Award Recipients Plaque” (located in the AOB lobby);

• The UIC Vice Chancellor for Research “Researcher of the Year Award” Ceremony to honor the awardees.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Open to all faculty (i.e. tenured, tenure-track, research-track, clinical-track) with a full-time appointment at UIC;

2. Must have made a significant contribution within the last five (5) years in one of the four categories of research listed above;

3. For the purpose of this award, appointments at the VA are included if the VA and UIC appointments equal 100%;

4. Previous Researcher of the Year Award awardees submitting a nomination this year must propose a significant research accomplishment different than that for which they were previously awarded.

Required 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 five (5) 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. Previous Researcher of the Year Award awardees must state how the significant research accomplishment for this nomination differs from the research accomplishment for which they were previously awarded (one additional page).

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. Three (3) letters of support from individuals other than the nominator. Two of the three support letters must be from individuals within the candidate's field but 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.

Optional Nomination Materials

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

Submission Instructions

Submission deadline is Friday, November 6, 2009, 12:00pm.  

Selection Process

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

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

Nominees will be notified of results in mid-December.

Reception Information

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
4:00pm-6:30pm
Student Center West, Chicago Rooms

For questions, please contact Chang Lee at 6.1961 or royawards@uic.edu.

Last updated: Wednesday, October 14, 2009.