Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research
The Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research is an annual award instituted in 1994. The award recognizes outstanding undergraduate students for their research, scholarship or creative activity tied to any academic subject and performed while at UC Davis. Successful submissions should clearly demonstrate and effectively communicate the outstanding contributions to research and discovery in their discipline, with an emphasis on the student's independent contributions.
Nominations are also accepted for the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research in three categories: 1) faculty, 2) postdoc or project scientist/specialist, and 3) graduate student. The nominee in each category must be exceptional for his/her/their contribution to the mentoring of undergraduate students in research and/or creative activities.
Eligibility
- An UC Davis undergraduate student in good academic standing
- A graduating senior this current academic year.
- Eligible to participate in the June commencement ceremonies
- Have conducted your independent research under the direction of a UC Davis faculty member
- Considered an outstanding undergraduate researcher by your faculty research sponsor
What are the benefits of winning the award?
Undergraduate recipients of the prestigious award receive:
- $1000 Dean Keith Simonton Prize (stipend)
- Engraved plaque
- Special recognition at the Chancellor’s Award Reception
Application information
The application consists of the nominated student applying with the following:
- A PDF with a 1-2 page summary, (12 point font, single spaced) describing your project in a way that emphasizes your independent contributions and communicates the project clearly to a committee comprised of faculty from diverse academic disciplines AND a field specific example of your project (e.g., poster, thesis, etc.).
- A nomination letter from the faculty sponsor
- In addition to the nomination letter, at least one supporting recommendation letter is required. A second supporting letter of recommendation is optional. All letters should be no more than 2 pages long, 12-point font, single spaced.
- You will enter information for your nominating professor and other supporting letter writer(s) and they will each be sent an email to upload the letter directly into the application.
FAQs
Chancellor's Award for Excellence -- Undergraduates
Application for Undergraduates
Deadlines:
Application: 11:59 p.m. April 3
Letters of Nomination/Support: 11:59 p.m. April 8
Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research
This annual award was instituted in 1994 to recognize faculty for excellence in mentoring undergraduate research as a way to emphasize the importance and visibility of faculty’s contribution to the excellence in mentoring and advocacy for undergraduate research and creative activities. The annual award was expanded to recognize the critical contributions of individuals at the graduate and post-doc level in 2015 and further expanded to include nominations of project scientists/specialists in 2021. The nominee in each category must be exceptional for his/her/their contribution to the mentoring of undergraduate students in research and/or creative activities. The recipients will be announced at the Chancellor's Award Reception in June with winners receiving a special plaque and $500 award.
Who may nominate
- Undergraduate students
- Postdocs
- Project Scientists/specialists
- Graduate students
- Staff
This year we now have three categories of mentors you can nominate!
- Faculty who mentor undergraduate researchers
- Graduate students who mentor undergraduate researchers
- Postdocs and Project scientist/specialists who mentor undergraduate researchers
How many letters are required?
Two letters are required (and third is optional)
- One letter of nomination from the list above
- One additional letter of recommendation from the list above
- A third letter of recommendation is optional.
Letters may be no more than 2 pages long, 12-point font, single spaced. Letters co-signed by 2 or more people (e.g. by several students) are also acceptable.
FAQs
Chancellor's Award for Excellence -- Graduate Students
Chancellor's Award for Excellence -- Researchers/Postdocs
Chancellor's Award for Excellence -- Faculty
Deadlines:
Application: 11:59 p.m. April 3
Letters of Nomination/Support: 11:59 p.m. April 8