The School of Medicine Office of Research is pleased to announce our 2026 call for nominations for our sixth annual research awards to recognize research excellence and outstanding academic achievement in the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Each awardee will receive a monetary award and an individual plaque of recognition, and their names will be added to an enduring plaque on display in Irvine Hall. Additionally, the recipient of The Gina Lee Award for Excellence in Mentoring Basic Science Research Trainees will be invited to give a related lecture hosted by the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics.
There are awards in seven categories:
- 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 (typically graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) engaging in basic science research. The Excellence in Mentoring Clinical Research Trainees Award is for faculty who mentor trainees (typically graduate students, clinical fellows and residents) engaging in clinical research. Please note that graduate students include medical students and MSTP students (each awardee will receive $1,500).
- School of Medicine 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 will receive $750 each).
- School of Medicine 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 will receive $750 each).
- School of Medicine 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 $1,500).
- School of Medicine 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).
- School of Medicine 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).
- School of Medicine 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).
Selection criteria include:
- Impact on the training and career development of trainees (specific to School of Medicine Trainee Mentoring Awards)
- Academic accomplishment
- Original contribution to the literature
- Significance of innovation to the field
- Relevance to the aims and priorities of the School of Medicine
Award nominations are due by Monday, March 23, 2026, to Emily Dawidoff at 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 colleagues, but please no self-nominations.
A committee will review recommendations, and awards will be announced in May, ahead of an awards ceremony planned for June 4, 2026. We look forward to receiving your nominations.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey W. Abbott, PhD
Vice Dean for Basic Science Research
Eric Vilain, MD, PhD
Vice Dean for Clinical Research
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