Office of the Vice President forResearch and Innovation

The VCU Eminent Researcher of the Year Award will recognize a faculty member who has demonstrated a superior, sustained, and impactful record of scholarly, creative, and research achievement that has garnered significant national and/or international recognition. Criteria will focus on the quality and significance of contributions to their field, including, but not limited to, a distinguished record of external funding, high-impact publications or creative works, and evidence of translational research or broader societal impact. The award also seeks to recognize contributions to mentorship and the development of the next generation of researchers, aligning with VCU’s mission to foster an environment of research excellence and innovation. Upon receipt at the award ceremony during Research Weeks, the selected winner will be expected to provide 15–20 minutes of remarks or a presentation regarding their research findings. All applicants are automatically considered for the VCU Eminent Researcher of the Year Award; a separate application will not be considered.

The four Excellence in Research awards will be given in recognition of research achievement in the identified area of research to a tenured, tenure-track, or contract faculty member who has had a substantial impact in the field with national and/or international interest. This individual’s research should be characterized as either profoundly influencing later development in a field or as representing a productive record of significant research that has illuminated basic, applied, or translational processes or phenomena. Specific areas of focus for each award can be found in the One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan, including both its four strategic priorities and 16 research clusters. 

The four Rising Star awards recognize non-tenure or tenure-track faculty who have demonstrated outstanding initial research productivity and scholarly achievement in a specific research area. This award is reserved for individuals who have already produced high-impact, peer-reviewed findings characterized by methodological rigor and original thought. The individual’s work must be gaining early traction and recognition outside the university and clearly illustrate a promising trajectory toward becoming a leader in their discipline. Specific areas of focus for each award can be found in the One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan, including both its four strategic priorities and 16 research clusters. 

The VCU Postdoctoral Fellow of the Year will be given in recognition of exceptional research productivity and scholarly achievement. This award celebrates an individual whose independent contributions have been critical to the success of a major research initiative in an identified area. The recipient’s work must include high-impact, first-authored publications or intellectual property that demonstrate rigorous methodology and original thought, or potential for commercialization, and establish the candidate as an emerging leader in their field.

The Vice President for Research and Innovation shall appoint a selection committee, “The VCU Annual Research Impact Awards committee”, and shall name the chairperson. The selection committee will consist of faculty members chosen to fairly represent each campus. No one with the title of Dean, Vice President, Senior Vice Provost, or Vice Provost is eligible to serve on the selection committee.

All deliberations of the selection committee must be held in complete confidence. An electronic version of each nomination will be received in the Office of the VP for Research and Innovation within the specified time frame. The Office will review submissions to assure all requirements are met and then share the files with the committee. The committee will then begin its confidential selection process. Once deliberations are complete, the committee chair will forward recommended awardees to the Vice President for Research and Innovation for final approval.