For a better experience, click the Compatibility Mode icon above to turn off Compatibility Mode, which is only for viewing older websites.

Research Excellence Awards

student-with-test-tube-in-lab

Award Overview

Research Excellence Awards are presented to graduate students who have completed original, innovative research, scholarship and/or creativity during their career at Drexel. The awards are designed to recognize widely disseminated student research with significant impact on the field or society. Eligible graduate students must be fully matriculated in a graduate program.

Awards will be presented to:

  • A post-candidacy doctoral student (earned 45 or more credits toward his/her degree)
  • A pre-candidacy doctoral student or master’s student continuing through a doctoral program (earned less than 45 credits toward his/her degree)
  • A master’s students not counting through a doctoral program
  • A graduate student for most original and creative work

Required Materials

  1. Completed Application via the Drexel Funding Portal (InfoReady)
  2. Letter of Recommendation from the Nominating Faculty Member- Maximum of 2 pages describing why the student is deserving of this award based on the evaluation criteria
  3. A Second Letter of Recommendation- Maximum of 2 pages, such as from another faculty member who can speak on the impact of the student’s work, the student’s supervising professor, research mentor, Associate Dean, Dean, etc.
  4. Student’s Personal Statement- Maximum of 2 pages
  5. Student's Resume/CV- Maximum of 2 pages (such as an NSF or NIH biosketch)

Evaluation Criteria

  • Originality, Creativity and Significance of Research
  • External Recognition (peer-reviewed papers published, presentations, awards, recognition by professional associations, etc.)
  • Internal Recognition (Drexel awards, standing of the student among peers, etc.)
  • Impact on the Field (through citations, H-index, etc.)

Nomination Process & Timeline

Full-time faculty are encouraged to nominate eligible graduate students via the Drexel Funding Portal (InfoReady) by Friday, March 29, 2019. To submit a nomination, click “Apply” in the top-right corner of the nomination form in the Drexel Funding Portal (InfoReady). Nominations are limited to one per award category per nominator. A rubric with evaluation criteria is provided. Incomplete nominations will not be considered. The Graduate College will confirm the eligibility of the graduate student nominee for the selected category prior to assigning reviewers.

Nominations will be distributed to the College/School Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, or their designee, who will advance finalists via the Drexel Funding Portal (InfoReady) by Friday, April 12, 2019.

For the Associate Dean/Designee and the College/School Level Review Committees:

The Graduate College will assign the Associate Dean/Designee as a reviewer for each of the college/school nominees for review and consideration by the Associate Dean/Designee and their respective college/school review committee on or around Monday, April 1, 2019. A deliberation meeting should be scheduled in enough time for the Associate Dean/Designee to advance finalists via the Drexel Funding Portal (InfoReady) by Friday, April 12, 2019.

Award Selection & Distribution

The Graduate College appoints a Graduate Student Excellence Awards Committee to review college/school finalists and select awardees based on the evaluation criteria on the attached rubric. Awards are distributed each year at Graduate Student Day. Graduating students will also be listed in the official Commencement booklet and may also be recognized during their College/School Commencement ceremony.

If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate College at gradawards@drexel.edu.