College of Engineering Outstanding Research Staff Excellence Award

Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize, encourage, and promote outstanding research staff who have significant impact on research programs within the College of Engineering over the past five years.

Recognition: Award Recipient: Plaque, $2,000. Finalist: Plaque, $1,500.

Eligibility: The award is open to all research staff, including research scientists, research engineers, as well as individuals who are classified as research operations in the College of Engineering with at least a half-time appointment and at least two years of continuous service to the College of Engineering as a permanent employee. Staff members who provide at least 75% of their effort in service to the College of Engineering are eligible for the CoE Staff Awards of Excellence. One award recipient and two finalists will be recognized annually. The award may not be given to the same individual more than once in a three-year period. The nominees will be employees of the College of Engineering at the time of nomination. The awardee is expected to remain an employee of the College of Engineering until presentation of the award at the annual banquet, except for special cases such as retirement. The following criteria should be considered when submitting the nomination:

The main criterion for the award is the staff member’s significant impact on the success of a research program. Examples of significant impact include but are not restricted to:

  • Demonstrating a positive impact on research by assisting in securing new sponsored research programs, as evidenced by letters from other faculty and staff on winning teams.
  • Exhibiting positive impact on research by having a significant role in the successful implementation of sponsored research programs, as evidenced by letters from PIs and co-PIs of the programs.
  • Actively participating in important scientific publications, as evidenced by letters from co-authors.
  • Playing a key role in the successful establishment of unique major research facilities.

Procedures:

  • Candidates may be nominated by any faculty or staff member in the College of Engineering.
  • If multiple nominations for one employee are received, the nominators will be contacted and asked to collaborate in order to submit one nomination package.
  • Selections will be made by the Staff Awards Committee.
  • Each recipient will receive a cash award of $2,000, an individual plaque, and will be honored during the annual staff awards banquet. Each finalist will receive a cash award of $1,500, an individual plaque, and will be honored during the annual staff awards banquet.
  • Nominations may be carried over for one year following the initial submission, except as stated above regarding eligibility of recipients and finalists. For this purpose, nominators and/or supervisors will be contacted and will be provided the option of putting the nominee forward a second time, as well as an opportunity to update the materials.

Materials to be submitted for the nomination:

  • Required materials include the nomination form and attached documentation, which should not exceed two pages and three letters of support, not longer than one page each. These letters should be incorporated directly into the nomination file.
  • Please provide specific examples of how the nominee’s career in engineering has exemplified the various criteria for this award. Nominators and/or support letter writers are also encouraged to address or expand upon the award criteria appropriate for each category.
  • Please describe the broader impact the nominee has made, through his or her contribution(s), on his or her constituents.

Helpful Hints:

  • Nominators and/or support letter writers are encouraged to address or expand upon the award criteria appropriate for each category.
  • Give details of a personal involvement or connection to the candidate.
  • Provide letters of support from a diverse group of individuals, including extracurricular sources.
  • Utilizing different sources of input such as students, faculty and staff, is valuable for a nomination.
Outstanding Research Staff Excellence Award Nomination Form (DOC)