Excellence in Research – In-Unit

Program Overview

The University Research Council and the Office of the Vice President for Research are proud to offer the In-Unit Excellence in Research Awards. Each college may select one research award recipient.

One Excellence in Research award is available to the combined research faculty in those institutes and centers not directly associated with an academic college.

Each college recipient selected will be considered for one additional University Excellence in Research Award.

Please contact your college for earlier deadlines.

Funding

Each college-level recipient shall receive a one-time payment of $2,000.

One university-level recipient will be selected to receive an additional $2,000. Award amounts are treated as income and are subject to normal withholding tax.

Eligibility

Each candidate:

• Must be a full-time employee with at least three years of continuous non-visiting, non-OPS service at UCF immediately prior to the current year.
• Must have an assignment of at least 0.10 FTE in research over each of the three immediately preceding years and the current year at UCF.
• Must not have received a college or university Excellence in Research award in the past three years.
  • In considering previous winners of the Excellence in Research Award, only materials developed since the last award will be considered in the evaluation for the current year’s award.
• Members of the University Research Council who are involved in the selection process are not eligible to apply for the university award, but may be selected for the college award.

Criteria

All full-time employees in the appropriate discipline with at least three academic years of continuous non-visiting, non-OPS service at UCF immediately prior to the current academic year are eligible, except for employees who have received a college or university excellence award in the past three academic years in the category for which they are applying.

The criteria for evaluating applicants’ files shall include three major categories:

1. Cumulative value and impact of research efforts at UCF within the discipline and to society;
2. Recognition of research impact by the individual’s peers in the same or in related disciplines;
3. Publication/dissemination and presentation of research results.

See Article 23.6 (c) in the current collective bargaining agreement for additional information.

Application Materials

Applications are submitted through Interfolio. Visit this link for a video tutorial on filing for awards or explore this guide. Please contact your dean’s office for more information.

Application Materials (Uploaded into Interfolio)

1. Supporting Materials (max. three examples- previous three years)

May provide three examples of work. The examples should be selected to provide evidence of quality as opposed to quantity.

2. CV*

Interfolio Form (Completed in Interfolio)

1. Primary Area of Research (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer)

2. Value and Impact of Research Efforts at UCF (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer – previous three years)

Provide a concise description of the value and impact of your research efforts at while at UCF within the discipline and to society, discussing, for example, new discoveries, major contributions, creativeness, originality, significant breakthroughs, etc. with a focus on the previous three years.

3. Research/Creative Activity Outlets (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer – previous three years)

Briefly describe how the research dissemination exceeds the norm in one’s  field.

4. Research/Creative Recognition (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer – previous three years)

Briefly list major awards or other evidence of recognition, including major research funding.

Evaluation and Award Process

*** Award applications are summited through  Interfolio. For more information, please contact your dean’s office.  

College Evaluation and Award Process

The dean of each college will charge a faculty committee to evaluate all applications and make selections for the College Excellence in Research Award. College recipients automatically compete for the University Excellence in Research Award.

University Evaluation and Award Process

The University Research Council selects the University Excellence in Research recipient.

University Award Evaluation Rubric

All evaluations should be based on applicant accomplishments within the past 3 years based on the Excellence in Research guidelines on the Faculty Excellence website. Applicants and/or their colleges should provide evidence about average impact and research/creative productivity norms in their discipline areas, as well significance of awards.

• Applicants should provide clear and transparent information about grant funded monies, including identifying their credit/shared credit.
• Examples shared in this rubric are not comprehensive and applicants should articulate outcomes that are relevant to their research and discipline.

Rubric categories:

• Impact: the impact of research efforts at UCF as defined by tangible outcomes, including but not limited to citations and/or other metrics.
• Value: the impact of research efforts while at UCF within the discipline and to society, discussing, for example, new discoveries, major contributions, creativeness, originality, significant breakthroughs, etc.
• Recognition in the field: awards and/or other evidence of recognition, including major research funding.
• Research and/or creative activities: dissemination that exceeds the norm in one’s field.