Award Guidelines & Criteria
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation offers various awards to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions in research, scholarship, creative activities, mentorship, and innovation. The following guidelines outline the criteria and requirements for eligibility, nomination, and selection.
To be eligible for these awards, candidates must be in good professional standing within their departments or units and meet the eligibility requirements established for the applicable award.
2026–2027 Award Cycle
For awards requiring departmental nomination, the following deadlines apply:
- October 30, 2026: Department head or school director nomination due to the respective college dean.
- December 4, 2026: Nominee supporting materials due to the Dean's Office.
- January 15, 2027: College winner due from the dean to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation.
Individual award requirements and selection processes are provided below.
Research Excellence Award
Recognition: One faculty member per academic college demonstrating exceptional research, scholarship, and/or creative activities in their respective discipline.
Purpose
The Research Excellence Award recognizes senior faculty members whose research, scholarship, and/or creative works have contributed to the advancement of UL Lafayette's research mission as a Top-Tier research university and to the national reputation of their academic college.
Nominations may be based on a proven record of recent productivity in research, scholarship, or creative works, including particularly high-quality research publications, significant research funding, national or international awards or recognition, notable creative performances or exhibits, or other meritorious national achievements.
Eligibility
Candidates must
- Hold a full-time tenured faculty position at UL Lafayette; and
- Have been a faculty member at the University for a minimum of five years.
Previous recipients are not eligible to receive the award again for five years and must demonstrate new meritorious achievements in research, scholarship, or creative activity.
Under extraordinary circumstances, a prior recipient may be nominated and selected with the academic dean providing a rationale for the circumstances supporting the nomination.
Nomination Procedure
Each department head or school director may submit one nomination, copying the nominee, to the dean of the respective college by Friday, October 30, 2026.
The nominee must provide the required supporting materials to the Dean's Office by Friday, December 4, 2026.
Each dean will select one faculty winner from the college's pool of nominations and submit the winner's name to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation by Friday, January 15, 2027.
Supporting Materials
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Personal statement of no more than 500 words explaining the objectives and significance of the nominee's research, scholarship, or creative project and emphasizing the broader trajectory of the work, its impact, and its anticipated continued impact on the discipline; and
- Supporting letter from the nominee's department or school head/director.
Rising Star Award
Recognition: One junior faculty member per academic college showing great promise in research, scholarship, and/or creative activities in their respective discipline.
Purpose
The Rising Star Award recognizes and encourages excellence in academic research, creative works, and scholarship by tenure-track faculty at UL Lafayette.
Nominations may be based on recent productivity in research, scholarship, or creative works, including particularly high-quality research publications, receipt of research funding, regional, national, or international awards or recognition, notable creative performances, or other meritorious achievements.
Eligibility
Candidates must:
- Hold a full-time tenure-track faculty position at UL Lafayette; and
- Have been a faculty member at the University for a minimum of two years.
Previous recipients are not eligible to receive the award again.
Nomination Procedure
Each department head or school director may submit one nomination, copying the nominee, to the dean of the respective college by Friday, October 30, 2026.
The nominee must provide the required supporting materials to the Dean's Office by Friday, December 4, 2026.
Each dean will select one faculty winner from the college's pool of nominations and submit the winner's name to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation by Friday, January 15, 2027.
Supporting Materials
- Curriculum vitae (CV);
- Personal statement of no more than 500 words explaining the objectives and significance of the nominee's research or scholarship and emphasizing the broader trajectory of the work, its impact, and its anticipated continued impact on the discipline; and
- Supporting letter from the nominee's department or school head/director.
Outstanding Doctoral Student Mentor Award
Recognition: Individuals who have demonstrated exceptional productivity in supporting the education and development of doctoral students within their respective colleges.
Purpose
The Outstanding Doctoral Student Mentor Award honors individuals who have demonstrated success in mentoring doctoral students in their research and/or creative inquiry endeavors.
Selection Process
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation will work with the Graduate School to identify award recipients based on the number of students mentored during the year.
The selection process will be shared with the respective deans.
Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
Recognition: Individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to undergraduate students and their advancement as undergraduate researchers.
Purpose
The Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award honors individuals who have demonstrated success in mentoring undergraduate students in their research and/or creative inquiry endeavors.
Eligibility
Candidates must:
- Hold a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty position or an instructor/lecturer position at UL Lafayette; and
- Have been a faculty member at the University for a minimum of two years.
Previous recipients are not eligible to receive the award again for five years and must demonstrate new activities in mentored research.
Nomination Procedure
Each department head or school director may submit one nomination, copying the nominee, to the dean of the respective college by Friday, October 30, 2026.
The nominee must provide the required supporting materials to the Dean's Office by Friday, December 4, 2026.
Each dean will select one faculty winner from the college's pool of nominations and submit the winner's name to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation by Friday, January 15, 2027.
Supporting Materials
- Curriculum vitae (CV);
-
Personal statement of no more than 500 words explaining how the mentor has:
- Supported and inspired undergraduate students to grow intellectually as researchers;
- Encouraged and enabled students to reach their goals; and
- Supported and encouraged students on a personal level.
- Supporting letter from the nominee's colleagues and students.
Outstanding Achievement in Externally Funded Research
Recognition: Individuals who have been awarded externally sponsored projects during the fiscal year in either of the following categories:
- $2 million or more; or
- $1 million to less than $2 million.
Selection Process
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation will work with the Office of Research Accounting and Compliance (ORAC) to identify award recipients.
Excellence in Licensing and Commercialization
Recognition: Individuals or teams who have actively contributed to the advancement of the University's innovation ecosystem through the successful licensing and commercialization of a provisional or non-provisional patent application during the fiscal year.
Selection Process
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation will work with the Office of Innovation Management to identify award recipients.