Research Recognition Awards

Research Staff Awards

The university has developed a series of awards to recognize members of its research community whose work helps advance knowledge, solve challenging problems, create new products and enhance quality of life.

Research Staff awards are open to all (non-OVPR, with the exception of the OVPR Exceptional Staff Recognition Award and the OVPR Staff Leadership Award) regular non-faculty staff members employed by any unit of the University of Michigan’s three campuses. Students, tenured/tenure track, clinical track, and research track faculty are not eligible for these awards. 

Awardees receive a personal honorarium of $1,000 and an award.

All Research Staff Recognition Award nominations are due February 12. The Research Staff Award ceremony will be held on May 22.

text: 2024 Research Staff Awards<br />
photos of the awardees, from left to right, top to bottom: Jasmina Camo-Biogradlija, Stacey A. Jacoby, Molly Kleinman, Beth LaPensee, Glenn S. Carter, Kyle S. Kwaiser, Songzhi Liu, Beth Jakubowski, Steven E. Whitesall, Kali Yilmaz, Ruth Elaine Halsey, Caitlin Conway, Megan Kellepourey, Karen Houghtaling, Thomas Paluchniak

View a list of past recipients of the OVPR Staff Recognition Awards.

Research Staff Leadership Recognition Award

Eligibility:
The Research Staff Leadership Recognition Award is open to those with primary responsibilities in supervising research centers, institutes, laboratory programs, or multiple teams in research.

Example Positions:

  • Center Managers
  • Managing Directors of Centers or Institutes & Cores
  • Laboratory Managers
  • Program Managers

    Submit Nomination 

    OVPR Research Leadership Recognition Award

    Eligibility:

    The OVPR Leadership Recognition Award is open to all OVPR staff who promote excellence in their work, units or in their research projects and teams.

    Example Positions:

    • Managers or Supervisors in OVPR
    • Managing Directors of Centers or Institutes in OVPR
    • Administrative Directors / Associate Directors in OVPR
    • Staff in OVPR who have demonstrated exceptional leadership with their team

      Submit Nomination 

      OVPR Exceptional Staff Recognition Award

      Eligibility:

      The OVPR Exceptional Staff Award is open to all OVPR staff who promote excellence in their work, units or in their research projects and teams.

      Example Positions:

      Any OVPR staff. Up to two awards may be given each year to recognize staff both in support/compliance roles and in research staff roles.

      Submit Nomination

      Research Study Coordinator/Manager Staff Recognition Award

      Eligibility:
      The Research Study Coordinator/Manager Staff Recognition Award is open to those with responsibility in supervising teams conducting a research project.

      Example Positions:

      • Study Coordinators
      • Project Managers

        Submit Nomination

        Research Associate/Assistant/Technician Recognition Award

        Eligibility:
        The Research Technical Staff Recognition Award is open to those who are involved in the practice of research or in support of faculty who are performing research.

        Example Positions:

        • Research Technicians
        • Research Associates/Assistants

        Submit Nomination 

        Research Data Management and Analysis Staff Recognition Award

        Eligibility:
        The Research Data Management and Analysis Staff Recognition Award is open to those with primary responsibilities being to perform data management and analysis on research projects.

        Example Positions:

        • Data Managers
        • Staff Statisticians
        • Programmers
        • Data Analysts

          Submit Nomination

          Research Staff Support Recognition Award

          Eligibility:
          The Research Staff Support Recognition Award is open to those with primary responsibilities in supporting and facilitating the successful planning and implementation of research projects and processes.

          Example Positions:

          • Administrative professionals
          • Library staff
          • Museum curators or support staff
          • Research development
          • IT staff

            Submit Nomination

            Research Cores/Facilities Staff Recognition Award

            Eligibility:
            The Research Cores/Facilities Staff Recognition Award is open to those with primary responsibilities in core services or facilities services supporting the research.

            Example Positions:

            • Research Cores Managers/Staff
            • Facilities Staff

              Submit Nomination

              Research Administrator Recognition Award

              Eligibility:

              The Research Administrator Recognition Award is open to those who have been working within research administration for greater than 3 years with primary responsibilities in research administration.

              Example Positions:

              • Research administrators
              • Research administrator manager
              • Research administration supervisors
              • Research administration

                Submit Nomination

                Outstanding New Research Administrator Recognition Award

                Eligibility:

                The Outstanding New Research Administrator is open to those with primary responsibilities in research administration for less than 3 years.

                Example Positions:

                • Research administrators
                • Research administration
                  (Less than 3 years in the role)

                  Submit Nomination

                  Research Staff Safeguard Recognition Award

                  Eligibility:

                  The Research Staff Safeguard Award is open to all staff who demonstrate exemplary commitment to safeguarding research in their daily work, including departmental lab staff and research administrators. 

                  Example Positions: Staff at any level who regularly promote safety and compliance.

                  Submit Nomination

                  Research Faculty Awards

                  The U-M Office of the Vice President for Research has established four awards to recognize excellence among research faculty from across the University of Michigan for their significant contributions and leadership in their fields: the Collegiate Research Professorship Award, the Research Faculty Achievement Award, the Research Faculty Recognition Award and the new Research Faculty Mentor Award. The deadline for Research Faculty Award nominations is February 19.

                  text: University of Michigan Office of the Vice President for Research Research Faculty Awards from left to right, photos of Alauddin Ahmed, Hugo Carreno-Luengo, Hsing-Fang Hsieh, Jason Goldstick, Kathryn Luker, John Nees

                  View a list of past recipients of the Research Recognition Awards.

                  Collegiate Research Professorship

                  ELIGIBILITY
                  Research Full Professors at the University of Michigan with at least a 60% appointment are eligible. Faculty must be a member of the U-M community through the time the award is made at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President in the fall. Tenured and tenure-track faculty are ineligible. Individuals within the award term of a previous Collegiate Research Professorship or Distinguished Research Scientist Award are ineligible. Nominations of outstanding women, minorities, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

                  AWARD
                  The recipient will be awarded a stipend of $2,000 per year for the initial five-year renewable term of the professorship, provided the awardee remains employed at the University. The honor of the OVPR Collegiate Research Professorship is conferred at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President each fall. One Collegiate Research Professor title may be renewed each year, however the stipend is not renewable past the first five years.

                  SELECTION CRITERIA
                  Exceptional scholarly achievement and impact on advancing knowledge in science, engineering, health, education, the arts, the humanities or other academic field of study. Individual nominations will be scored equally on the following criteria:

                  • Significance of Research/Scholarship – There is strong evidence of the importance and relevance of the candidate’s body of scholarly output.
                  • Impact of Research/Scholarship – The candidate’s work has significantly impacted concepts, methods, technologies, or ways of thinking, with potential future effects on research, policy, creative practice, or societal outcomes, such as conducting community-based or engaged research, creating mission-driven start-ups, pursuing creative performances, innovating practices, products, or services, pursuing patents, developing global solutions, and engaging with policymakers or other external groups.
                  • Research/Scholarly Innovation – The candidate’s body of scholarly output contains novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, interventions, or creative art.
                  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – The candidate’s research approach and/or accomplishments contribute to OVPR’s goals and values of diversity, equity, and inclusion which include equitable and inclusive team science, public engagement and societal impact research/scholarship, and faculty-driven exploration in areas of scientific discovery that impact DEI.

                  NOMINATION GUIDELINES

                  SUBMIT NOMINATION

                  • One-page description of the qualities and accomplishments that make the individual a superior choice for the award.
                  • Nominee CV and a one-page personal statement from the nominee to support his/her nomination based on the criteria to be scored.
                  • At least three (3) letters of support, including two from outside the University, from a range of individuals knowledgeable about the nominee’s work, which demonstrate the nominee’s significant contributions to his/her field.
                  • Upload entire nomination packet as a single pdf.

                  DEADLINE
                  Nominations are due by Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

                  QUESTIONS
                  For questions related to this award, please contact Linda Lillemoen in the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research at [email protected].

                  Research Faculty Achievement Award

                  ELIGIBILITY
                  U-M faculty with at least a 60% University appointment at the rank of Research Associate Professor, Research Scientist or Associate Research Scientist. Faculty must be a member of the U-M community through the time the award is made at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President in the fall. Tenured and tenure-track faculty are ineligible for this award. Nominations of outstanding women, minorities, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

                  AWARD
                  The recipient will be awarded $1,500 to be conferred at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President each fall.

                  SELECTION CRITERIA
                  Outstanding scholarly achievements, as represented by significant contributions to an academic field of study over time, a specific outstanding discovery, or the development of innovative technology or practice. Individual nominations will be scored equally on the following criteria:

                  • Significance of Research/Scholarship – There is strong evidence of the importance and relevance of the candidate’s body of scholarly output.
                  • Impact of Research/Scholarship – The candidate’s work has significantly impacted concepts, methods, technologies, or ways of thinking, with potential future effects on research, policy, creative practice, or societal outcomes, such as conducting community-based or engaged research, creating mission-driven start-ups, pursuing creative performances, innovating practices, products, or services, pursuing patents, developing global solutions, and engaging with policymakers or other external groups.
                  • Research/Scholarly Innovation – The candidate’s body of scholarly output contains novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, interventions, or creative art.
                  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – The candidate’s research approach and/or accomplishments contribute to OVPR’s goals and values of diversity, equity, and inclusion which include equitable and inclusive team science, public engagement and societal impact research/scholarship, and faculty-driven exploration in areas of scientific discovery that impact DEI.

                  NOMINATION GUIDELINES

                  SUBMIT NOMINATION

                  • One-page description of the qualities and accomplishments that make the individual a superior choice for the award.
                  • Nominee CV and a one-page personal statement from the nominee to support his/her nomination based on the criteria to be scored.
                  • At least three (3) letters of support, including one from outside the University, from a range of individuals knowledgeable about the nominee’s work, which demonstrate the nominee’s significant contributions to his/her field.
                  • Upload entire nomination packet as a single pdf.

                  DEADLINE
                  Nominations are due by Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

                  QUESTIONS
                  For questions related to this award, please contact Linda Lillemoen in the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research at [email protected].

                  Research Faculty Recognition Award

                  ELIGIBILITY
                  U-M faculty with at least a 60% University appointment at the rank of Research Assistant Professor or Assistant Research Scientist. Faculty must be a member of the U-M community through the time the award is made at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President in the fall. Tenured and tenure-track faculty are ineligible for this award. Nominations of outstanding women, minorities, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

                  AWARD
                  The recipient will be awarded $1,500 to be conferred at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President each fall.

                  SELECTION CRITERIA
                  Exceptional scholarly achievements, as evidenced by publications and/or other scholarly activities in any academic field of study. Individual nominations will be scored equally on the following criteria:

                  • Significance of Research/Scholarship – There is strong evidence of the importance and relevance of the candidate’s body of scholarly output.
                  • Impact of Research/Scholarship – The candidate’s work has significantly impacted concepts, methods, technologies, or ways of thinking, with potential future effects on research, policy, creative practice, or societal outcomes, such as conducting community-based or engaged research, creating mission-driven start-ups, pursuing creative performances, innovating practices, products, or services, pursuing patents, developing global solutions, and engaging with policymakers or other external groups.
                  • Research/Scholarly Innovation – The candidate’s body of scholarly output contains novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, interventions, or creative art.
                  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – The candidate’s research approach and/or accomplishments contribute to OVPR’s goals and values of diversity, equity, and inclusion which include equitable and inclusive team science, public engagement and societal impact research/scholarship, and faculty-driven exploration in areas of scientific discovery that impact DEI.

                  NOMINATION GUIDELINES

                  SUBMIT NOMINATION

                  • One-page description of the qualities and accomplishments that make the individual a superior choice for the award.
                  • Nominee CV and a one-page personal statement from the nominee to support his/her nomination.
                  • At least (3) letters of support from a range of individuals knowledgeable about the nominee’s work, which demonstrate the nominee’s significant contributions to his/her field.
                  • Upload entire nomination packet as a single pdf.

                  DEADLINE
                  Nominations are due by Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

                  QUESTIONS
                  For questions, please contact Linda Lillemoen in the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research at [email protected].

                  Research Faculty Mentor Award

                  ELIGIBILITY
                  U-M faculty with at least a 60% University appointment at the rank of Research Professor or Research Scientist, Research Associate Professor or Associate Research Scientist, Research Assistant Professor or Assistant Research Scientist. Faculty must be a member of the U-M community through the time the award is made at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President in the fall. Tenured and tenure-track faculty are ineligible for this award. Nominations of outstanding women and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

                  AWARD
                  The recipient will be awarded $1,500 to be conferred at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the President each fall. 

                  SELECTION CRITERIA
                  Candidates for the Research Faculty Mentor Award will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

                  • Mentorship Quality – Demonstrated excellence in mentoring research faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and/or undergraduate students. Evidence of providing guidance, support, and fostering academic growth and career development.
                  • Impact on Mentees – Tangible outcomes of mentoring activities, such as the professional achievements of mentees, successful placements, or continued collaboration. 
                  • Inclusive Mentorship – Efforts to create an inclusive and supportive environment for mentees of all backgrounds.
                  • Sustained Commitment – Consistent and long-term involvement in direct mentorship as well as mentoring-related initiatives, workshops, or committees within the university of professional organizations.

                  NOMINATION GUIDELINES

                  SUBMIT NOMINATION

                  • A detailed letter from the primary nominator (dean, chair, or senior colleague) describing the nominee’s mentoring activities, achievements, and impact on mentees. 
                  • Up to three (3) letters of support from current or former mentees, colleagues, or supervisors, highlighting specific examples of mentorship and its outcomes. 
                  • Nominee CV and a one-page personal statement from the nominee to support their nomination.
                  • A list of mentees and their accomplishments, if applicable. 
                  • Upload the entire nomination packet as a single pdf.

                  DEADLINE

                  Nominations are due by Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

                  QUESTIONS

                  For questions, please contact Linda Lillemoen in the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research at [email protected].