FAQ

2026 Cycle Information: 

• Nomination Deadline: Extended to December 3, 2025
• Nominee submission of CV and References: December 15, 2025

Awards are presented annually at the New Centers and Institutes reception. Full timeline and deadlines will be posted as available on the nomination page.

Eligibility varies by award category. For example, the Emerging Research Scholar Award is for an assistant-level faculty member, while the Established Research Scholar Award is for associate-level faculty, and the Eminent Research Scholar Award recognizes full professors with sustained distinction. 

• Note: The Eminent Research Scholar award is not intended to recognize those who have already been named Distinguished University Professor. 

Additional eligibility details are provided on the award description page. 

RSCW Impact = Breadth of influence and societal benefit (any form of public impact from scholarship).

Translational Impact = Direct application and implementation (turning research into practice, innovation, or policy).

If you're uncertain as to which award best fits your nominee, please contact us for additional guidance. 

Self-nominations are encouraged. We also greatly appreciate nominations from colleagues, chairs, or deans.

Nominees will receive the link to complete their nomination (including their CV and additional contacts for letters of support) via email in early December. 

This will allow the RSCW awards team to determine if an individual has been nominated for more than one award. If so, we will provide the nominee a choice of which award they would like to be considered in this cycle. 

A faculty member may be considered for only one award per cycle. Nominators should select the award that best matches the candidate’s career stage and accomplishments.

If a faculty member is nominated for multiple awards in the same cycle, we will reach out to the nominee for guidance on which award they would prefer for consideration.

Please visit the award overview page for specific guidance, as the criteria varies. 

Nominations stay active for two subsequent award cycles after submission and will automatically be reconsidered during that time.

Nominations are reviewed by a faculty committee appointed by the Senior Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education. 

For the 2026 inaugural year, this responsibility will be fulfilled by SPARC. 

Yes. A faculty member may be recognized with different awards across their career (e.g., Emerging, then Established, then Eminent). 

However, they may not receive the same award more than once, or more than one award per cycle.

The Research Scholar awardees will be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Researchers for a designated term length based upon which award was received. 

All research awardees will receive a certificate of their achievement, be honored at the New Centers and Institutes reception, and featured in University communications. 

Yes. Interdisciplinary and team-based nominations are welcomed, particularly for the RSCW Impact, Translational Impact and Mentoring Impact awards. 

For team submissions, at least one faculty member must be in a full-time academic role.

Nominations should provide clear descriptions of the collaborative nature of the project(s) and contributions of each member.

For questions about eligibility, award criteria, or the submission system, please contact honorifics@du.edu.