The Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and the Arts; Faculty Affairs; and the Graduate School invite nominations for the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Graduate Student Award. This award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research mentoring by OSU graduate students. Recipients will have direct and significant involvement with undergraduate student researchers, a demonstrable commitment to the research mentorship of undergraduate students, and a record of effectiveness and impact with respect to undergraduate student research and success.

The award also aligns with and supports development in the OSU Grad Advantage core competencies for graduate students. Nominees are encouraged to complete the OSU Grad Advantage Self-Assessment Tool at the time of their nomination, or in the case of prospective students after they have been formally admitted to gauge their ongoing professional development.

This award—previously offered jointly for graduate students and post-docs—has been separated into two different awards for graduate students and post-docs. 

Award Details

The recipient will receive an engraved plaque and an award in the amount of $1,000. 

Eligibility

  • Nominee is a current graduate student in a graduate degree-seeking program at Oregon State University
  • Nominee must be making satisfactory academic progress as determined by their graduate program
  • Nominee must have provided significant mentorship to undergraduate students in research-related endeavors at Oregon State University within the past three years

Evaluation Criteria

  • Quality of nominating letter 
  • Quality of additional letter(s) of support
  • Nominee’s overall effectiveness and impact in undergraduate research mentoring as described in the nominating letters and nominee’s statements. Measures of effectiveness and impact may include, but are not limited to accessibility, dependability, guidance in the undergraduate student’s research activities and learning, and demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable research environment supportive of undergraduate student success and belonging in the research context and on campus.
  • Quality of nominee’s statement and CV or résumé 

Nomination Period

The nomination period begins on September 27, 2023. All nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m., April 15, 2024. Awards will be determined in mid-May 2024.

Nomination Procedure

Nominations may be submitted by the student's graduate program director, department chair/head, college leadership, or appropriate leadership in an institutional partner unit. Students may not apply directly for this award. Each unit (as defined by university major code) and institutional partner may nominate no more than ONE nominee (total) per award cycle.

In the online nomination form, nominators will be required to prepare/upload the following materials as one PDF document using the following file name convention:
"Nominee's Last Name_Department_GRADMentor.pdf", and upload it through the nomination form.

  1. A letter of nomination from the nominee’s graduate program director or unit chair/head. The letter should address the nominee’s overall effectiveness and impact in undergraduate research mentoring. Measures of effectiveness and impact may include, but are not limited to accessibility, dependability, guidance in the undergraduate student’s research activities and learning, and demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable research environment supportive of undergraduate student success and belonging in the research context and on campus. {Limit one page, single-spaced}
  2. Up to two additional letters of support from the nominee's undergraduate mentees that can speak to the nominee's mentorship and commitment to research. {Limit one page, single-spaced per letter}
  3. A statement from the nominee describing their academic and professional goals; nominees are encouraged to review the Graduate School’s OSU Grad Advantage core competencies and complete the OSU Grad Advantage Self-Assessment Tool to assist in responding to this prompt. {Limit one page, single-spaced}
  4. A statement from the nominee describing their overall mentoring experience including how they support an inclusive and equitable mentoring environment; nominees are encouraged to review the Graduate School’s OSU Grad Advantage core competencies and complete the OSU Grad Advantage Self-Assessment Tool to assist in responding to this prompt. {Limit one page, single-spaced}
  5. A copy of the nominee’s résumé or curriculum vitae.

NOTE to Institutional Partners:

If an institutional partner is submitting the nomination, they must also have confirmation from the student’s academic unit that:

  • the student is not already being nominated for the same award by the academic unit, and
  • the student is in good academic standing, making satisfactory progress, and that the nomination aligns with the student’s status in the program.

Nomination Form

Submit a nomination

Nomination form overview

Questions

For questions about this award or any Graduate School administered awards, please contact our Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships team