URW Research Excellence Awards
The College of Engineering and Science is dedicated to cultivating a dynamic undergraduate research environment, celebrating students who demonstrate exceptional scholarly excellence. Our commitment extends across all disciplines within the College, recognizing outstanding research achievements through two prestigious annual awards.
- The Research Excellence All-Star Award
- The Research Excellence Rising-Star Award.
These honors provide valuable opportunities for students to showcase their work at our Research Excellence Symposia, enhancing their academic and professional profiles. Award recipients are recognized at the College of Engineering and Science Honors Convocation, with Rising-Star awardees receiving additional travel funds to attend a conference in the subsequent academic year.
We encourage both student self-nominations and faculty nominations for these awards. Interested parties should keep an eye out for email communications regarding nomination deadlines.
Category Descriptions
All Star Award
The All Star Award recognizes an undergraduate researcher whose sustained commitment to scholarly inquiry has distinguished them within the University of Detroit Mercy research community. This award celebrates students who have developed not only a strong record of research engagement, but also the intellectual independence, scientific curiosity, and collaborative spirit that characterize an accomplished emerging scholar. Their accomplishments may be reflected in scholarly presentations, publications, research recognition, and other meaningful contributions to the advancement and communication of scientific knowledge.
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award recognizes an undergraduate researcher who has demonstrated exceptional promise and meaningful growth early in their research journey. They demonstrate the potential to become increasingly independent and collaborative contributors to their research communities. While their accomplishments may still be developing, these students stand out for their dedication to learning, their positive trajectory of growth, and their capacity for future scholarly impact.
Award Selection Criteria
Students may be considered based on:
- Research engagement: Sustained participation in mentored research, course-based research experiences, summer research, research concentrations, or honors thesis work.
- Scholarly dissemination: Sharing research through presentations, publications, or other forms of scholarly communication.
- Research achievement and recognition: Evidence of accomplishment, including research-related awards or other appropriate recognition.
- Leadership and collaboration: Contributions to the research group through initiative, collaboration, peer support or mentorship, and increasing independence.
- Understanding of the research project: Ability to explain the project’s question or hypothesis, methods, results, conclusions, and broader significance.
- Scientific growth and potential: Evidence that the student is developing the skills to interpret data, propose next steps, and contribute thoughtfully to the direction of the research.
Finalists may be invited to discuss their research experience with the selection committee. Awards are determined through holistic review of the student’s accomplishments, research development, and potential.