UCI School of Medicine Research Awards

The UCI School of Medicine Research Awards celebrate excellence in research.

The School of Medicine Office of Research annually recognizes excellence in research and outstanding academic achievement. Each awardee receives a monetary award and an individual recognition plaque. Winners' names are also added to an enduring plaque on display in Irvine Hall.

This year, we are happy to announce a new annual research award category. The new award category will recognize faculty for excellence in mentoring research trainees. Two awards will be given: one for basic science research faculty and one for clinical/translational research faculty.

In honor of our late colleague Gina Lee, PhD, we have named the basic science faculty mentoring excellence award The Gina Lee Award for Excellence in Mentoring Basic Science Research Trainees.

Call for 2025 Nominations

The School of Medicine Office of Research is pleased to announce our 2025 call for nominations for our 5th Annual Research Awards.

Award nominations are due by Monday, March 24, 2025, to Emily Dawidoff, edawidof@hs.uci.edu. Nominations must include the nominee’s CV and a letter (up to one page) detailing their research accomplishments and impact. Anyone can nominate their colleague(s), but please no self-nominations.

A committee will review recommendations, and the awards will be announced in May, ahead of an awards ceremony planned for June 5, 2025. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

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Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award

Aimed at graduate students, including medical students, (one clinical/translational and one basic science) who show outstanding scientific promise in biomedical research. Two awardees; each will receive $750.

Outstanding Fellow/Resident Research Award

Aimed at residents, clinical fellows and postdoctoral fellows (one clinical and one basic science) who show outstanding scientific promise in biomedical research. Two awardees; each will receive $750.

Outstanding Career Scientist Research Award

Recognizing the scientific impact of career scientists (non-faculty; includes Professional Researcher, Project Scientist and Research Specialist series). One awardee will receive a $1,500 award.

Outstanding Early-Career Faculty Research Award

Recognizing the scientific impact and novel contribution of early-career faculty (includes assistant professors in the HS Clinical, Clinical X, In-Residence, In-Line and Adjunct series). Two awardees: one focused on basic research and one focused on clinical research; each will receive $1,500.

Outstanding Mid-Career Faculty Research Award

Recognizing mid-career scientists who have made novel and significant scientific contributions (includes associate and full professors in the HS Clinical, Clinical X, In-Residence, In-Line and Adjunct series). Two awardees: one focused on basic research and one focused on clinical research; each will receive $1,500.

Lifetime Research Achievement Award

Recognizing senior scientists who have made significant fundamental contributions to research with a lasting impact on their fields (includes full professors in the HS Clinical, Clinical X, In-Residence, In-Line and Adjunct series). Two awardees: one focused on basic research and one focused on clinical research; each will receive $1,500.

School of Medicine Trainee Mentoring Award

Recognizing faculty who have made an impact on research through their excellence in mentoring trainees. The Gina Lee Award for Excellence in Mentoring Basic Science Research Trainees is for faculty who mentor trainees engaging in basic science research. The Excellence in Mentoring Clinical Research Trainees Award is for faculty who mentor trainees engaging in clinical research. Each awardee will receive $1,500.

Academic Accomplishment

Original Contribution to the Literature

Significance of Innovation to the Field

Relevance to the Aims & Priorities of the School of Medicine