Application Information
The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to sponsor an award designed to honor the practice of mentoring undergraduate research and scholarship at the University of Houston. The award is intended to recognize demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate researchers, to encourage mentoring relationships with undergraduate students, and to convey the campus' high regard for such contributions made by the faculty of the academic and research community.This award is granted to faculty members that mentor undergraduates outside of the classroom, and that are committed to undergraduate research which extends above and beyond the classroom experience.
The University of Houston embraces its mission of providing a broad range of educational programs and services at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. One emerging area of importance entails increasing the participation of undergraduate students in the research component of the university's mission. The Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research encourages faculty to embrace the university's mission and enhance research opportunities on campus for undergraduate students.
Each year one UH faculty member will receive a one-time cash award of $5,000. Because only one award is issued each year, nominations should be limited to those individuals whose efforts in undergraduate mentorship at UH have been exceptional for a number of years.
The Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research is a career award at the University of Houston that is open to faculty members from all departments who are making a significant impact in their field by supporting and mentoring undergraduate students in research and scholarship endeavors. Full professors and associate professors are eligible for the award who have made a lasting commitment to undergraduate research within their respective departments, and have served at the University of Houston for at least five years.
Nominations for this award should present evidence that the nominee has made a significant contribution to advancing undergraduate research and scholarship on the UH campus. Applicants should not include mentorship that took place outside of UH, nor should candidates include information on undergraduate research courses they have taught. The advisory board of the Office of Undergraduate Research reviews the nominations. The strongest nominations will demonstrate a commitment to undergraduate research at UH through specific examples such as peer-reviewed publications involving undergraduates; student presentations, showings, or performances; and evidence for the continuing success of mentored students in the research endeavor (where the students are now).
Nomination forms are available below. All nomination materials and letters of support must be received at the Office of Undergraduate Research by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012.
Nomination package. The original nomination package and five additional copies should be printed single-sided, on 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper, using 12-point font size, and assembled in the following order:
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Nomination form. Download nomination form online. Include completed form with application materials.
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Brief curriculum vita of the nominee, no more than two pages in length.
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Listing of mentored undergraduates – name of student, dates or timeframe worked with student, title of project, and current position of student. Please include all students mentored since the beginning of academic career. Download mentoring chart online. Include completed chart with application materials.
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In a separate document, list all publications and presentations that involved undergraduates, designating the undergraduate researchers involved in each project by underlining their names, and separating out the articles by indicating if peer reviewed or not. Include with application materials.
- Description of mentoring activity, no more than one page in length. Explanation from nominee on how he or she works with students in regards to undergraduate research and mentorship. The nominee should explain specifically how he or she mentors students, and identify what types of activities undergraduates are involved in when working under his or her mentorship.
- Four letters of support include:
Chair of department's letter - letter from chair of department describing nominee's impact on field or department with emphasis on evidence of nominee's contribution to undergraduate research and mentoring in field
One (and only one) letter of recommendation from faculty member within nominee's department
Two (and only two) letters of recommendation from students that gave worked with nominee
Only four letters of recommendation will be accepted for the nomination
When submitting documents, please paper clip or staple packets. Do not submit applications in a binder or notebook.
Submit all nomination materials to:
The Office of Undergraduate Research
Attn: Karen Weber
211 MD Anderson Library (MC 2001)
Houston, TX 77204-2001
The application deadline is Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 5 p.m. If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact Karen Weber at (713) 743-3367 or Dr. Stuart Long at (713) 743-4445.
2012 Lynn Voskuil
Associate Professor, English
2011 Gangbing Song
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
2010 Rigoberto Advincula
Professor, Chemistry
2009 Keith Hollingsworth
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
2008 Margot Gayle Backus
Associate Professor, English
2007 Kenneth Brown
Professor, Anthropology
2006 T. Randall Lee
Cullen Distinguished Professor, Chemistry
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