Professional and Scientific Early Achievement in Research Award

Objective: To recognize a Professional and Scientific staff person for excellence in research.

Eligibility: A Professional and Scientific staff person who has conducted research for at least one year as of January 1 of the award year. Employed for a minimum of 1 year in Iowa State University’s College of Health and Human Sciences. Recipients must be Iowa State employees at the time of the College of Health and Human Sciences Awards Ceremony.

Amount of award: $500

Number of awards: One per year, although the College of Health and Human Sciences Awards Committee reserves the right not to select any recipient in a given year.

Criteria: Evidence of notable independent research accomplishments as evaluated by supervisors and/or experts in the nominee’s field. Evidence of the impact of the contributions on the nominee’s discipline. Evidence of external recognition independent of that of any mentor or supervisor. The candidates will be judged by the body of their work while Professional and Scientific employees in Iowa State University’s College of Health and Human Sciences.

Guidelines:

  1. Submissions must be in .pdf form and submitted via email to chsaward-submit@iastate.edu by 11:59 p.m. on the first Tuesday in February in the year in which the award will be given. Please name your PDF file “Award title, Last name of nominee” before submitting it (ex: Professional and Scientific Early Achievement in Research Award, Lee).
  2. Complete the nomination form.
  3. All letters should be on relevant letterhead, addressed to the College of Health and Human Sciences Faculty and Staff Awards Committee, and signed by letter writer. Letters should be written specifically for the nomination.
  4. Nominating letter: A letter of no more than three pages describing why this person deserves the award. Cite specific examples of relevant accomplishments, publications, and recognition. Focus on the impact of the nominee’s research activities, where applicable. Document the level of independence of the nominee’s contributions from those of any supervisor or mentor. If relevant, the nominating letter should address the norms for the numbers and types of publications expected for persons in the nominee’s position and discipline. Outline the quality of the journals in which the nominee has published and include a list of the two or three most prestigious journals or publication venues in his/her/their field. Discuss the nominee’s success in grantsmanship (sources and amounts), if any, and discuss the norms for grantsmanship among persons in similar positions in the nominee’s field.
  5. Curriculum vitae: This document should not exceed 25 pages. If the nominee has supervised students, it may be appropriate to include a list of current and former students with information about their employment or other research activities. 
  6. Letters from faculty, staff, or students: Two letters from faculty, students, or other employees with whom the nominee works. Supervisors or mentors who may be in a position to comment on the nominee’s teaching or research may be considered.
  7. Letters from experts: One letter from expert in the nominee’s field at Iowa State or other institutions who is knowledgeable about the nominee’s work and its impact on the discipline. Include a short paragraph summarizing the qualifications of any external references.