Outstanding Research Award

Purpose

The Penn State Engineering Alumni Society Outstanding Research Award recognizes and rewards outstanding engineering researchers for accomplishments in advancing the frontiers of knowledge. These research awards are established to confer honor on individuals who, by their contributions to knowledge, have brought recognition to themselves, the College and Penn State. The awardees illustrate the important role that research plays in a comprehensive program of engineering education.

Award

The name of the award is “PSEAS Outstanding Research Award.” Each recipient receives a memento. Funding is made possible through annual gifts from Engineering alumni and friends. This award is presented annually. A maximum of five recipients may be selected at the discretion of the selection committee. Fewer recipients may be selected at the discretion of the dean. 

Eligibility

All full-time faculty members of the College of Engineering are eligible.

Qualifications

All candidates must have:

  • completed at least three years of full-time service within the College of Engineering prior to the nomination;
  • demonstrated ability to conduct original research at Penn State;
  • developed innovative theories and/or laboratory techniques and instrumentation;
  • received acceptance of research results by colleagues and/or industry through citations or applications;
  • demonstrated evidence of scholarly contributions to the literature; and
  • demonstrated research effectiveness in a manner that substantially exceeds the normal expectation for a faculty member.

Nominations

Nominations may be initiated by Engineering students, faculty or department heads. Each nomination must, however, be submitted to the head of the candidate’s academic unit for review and approval prior to submission to the Dean’s Office.

Each nomination should consist of:

  • a completed nomination form which includes specific examples detailing how the nominee embodies the spirit of the award;
  • a one-page letter of nomination from the initiator;
  • a maximum of three letters of support from faculty, students, staff, or administrators;
  • each support letter will be one page in length and will have one signature.

Selection

A committee appointed by the Dean of Engineering will make selection. The committee will consist of PSEAS representatives, recent past award recipient, representative from the following group: distinguished professors, endowed professors and endowed chairs, and the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs.

Frequency

Past recipients are not eligible for a period of three years.