Graduate Division Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award

UC Santa Cruz strives to promote postdoctoral scholars that embody the mission and high standards of this university. This award recognizes postdoctoral scholars who show excellence in one or more of the following: exceptional research and/or creative activities, leadership, mentorship, and service. Postdoctoral scholars are individuals who have recently completed a doctoral degree and, under the oversight of a faculty mentor, continue training in preparation for a career in academia, industry, government, or the private sector.

Nomination period closed March 31.

Awardees Announced for 2022!

The Graduate Division and a faculty selection committee reviewed nominations and chose not two but three 2022 Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholars! They will be recognized and receive engraved Annieglass platters at the 2022 Postdoc Symposium on May 24 at the Coastal Campus. Each of the three will also receive $1500 for professional development.

Emily Martin Astronomy and Astrophysics Nominated by Associate Professor Andrew Skemer Endorsed by Professor Jonathan J. Fortney, Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Alexandra Mannings, Astronomy and Astrophysics Graduate Student	Giordon Stark Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP) Nominated by Associate Professor Michael Hance Endorsed by Distinguished Professor and Chair Bruce A. Schumm, Physics, and Hava Schwartz, Physics Graduate Student	Xinting Yu Earth and Planetary  Science Nominated by Associate Professor Xi Zhang Endorsed by Professor Jonathan J. Fortney, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Award Description

Two postdoctoral scholars will be selected annually from nominations reviewed by a committee of faculty, postdoctoral mentors/supervisors, and Graduate Division administrative leadership staff. Each awardee will receive $1500 to be used for research and/or to further their professional development (e.g., attend a scholarly conference, purchase equipment/supplies, etc.). Use of the award must be approved by the Vice Provost and Dean of the Division of Graduate Studies.

The two postdoctoral scholars chosen by the selection committee to receive the award exhibit one or more of the following:

• Excellent research and/or creative activity, showing strong evidence of research/creative innovation and productivity (e.g., scholarly distinctions, publications, presentations, inventions, exhibits, performances, products), as well as the nominee’s research/creative innovation and productivity having a significant or potentially significant impact on the field and/or society more broadly
• Leadership and/or strong service (e.g., preparing manuscripts, funding applications, organizing workshops or conferences, volunteering in professional and/or other organizations, etc.)
• Effective mentorship by advising graduate and/or undergraduate students
• Support and fostering of equity, diversity, and inclusion within their research group, department, institution, community, and/or field through their research/creativity, mentoring/teaching, and/or service activities

Eligibility

Postdoctoral scholars may be nominated by a faculty or principal investigator (PI) or may self-nominate. The nominee must be a UC Santa Cruz postdoctoral scholar with a postdoctoral title code and at least six months of UC Santa Cruz postdoctoral experience (at time of nomination) under the mentorship of a UC Santa Cruz faculty member or principal investigator (PI). 

Application Process

• Name, department, and email address of:
  • Postdoctoral Scholar Nominee
  • Faculty or Principal Investigator Mentor
  • Department Chair
  • Endorsers (one required, up to two accepted)

All of the above will receive a confirmation email of the completed nomination application.

• Shared link to a dedicated Google Drive folder named 2022PostdocAward PostdocLastName PostdocFirstName. Give Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Peter Biehl at vpdgs@ucsc.edu , Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Don Smith at drsmith@ucsc.edu, and Sonya Newlyn at snewlyn@ucsc.edu folder access with Editor rights. The nomination will not be complete until required materials are in the dedicated folder.

In the shared Google Drive folder (named 2022PostdocAward PostdocLastName PostdocFirstName) of nomination materials put the following documents (pdf file format recommended):

• Nomination statement (required) (900 words maximum) written by either the Faculty/PI Mentor Nominator or the Postdoctoral Scholar Nominee (self-nomination): This statement should address how the nominee exhibits excellence in research/creativity, leadership, mentoring, and service.
• Endorsement statements (one required, second optional): At least one required and a second optional statement endorsing the nominee (900 words maximum/statement):
  • If the postdoctoral scholar is self-nominating and writes the nomination statement, the required endorsement statement must be from the faculty/PI mentor.
  • If the faculty/PI mentor is nominating the postdoc and writes the nomination statement, the required endorsement statement may be from faculty, other postdoctoral scholars, graduate or undergraduate student mentees, or others that the nominee has worked closely with in the context of their position at UCSC.
  • The optional second endorsement statement may be from faculty, other postdoctoral scholars, graduate or undergraduate student mentees, or others that the nominee has worked closely with in the context of their position at UCSC.
• Curriculum vitae (required) for the postdoctoral scholar: The CV should include educational and postdoctoral appointment history (i.e., locations, dates, and mentors), and awards, honors, publications, presentations, inventions, exhibits, performances, etc., as well as professional memberships, volunteer organizations, and relevant activities. Accomplishments achieved while a postdoctoral scholar at UC Santa Cruz should be highlighted.

Selection Process

Nominations will be reviewed and awardees selected by a selection committee composed of faculty/PIs and Graduate Division administrative leadership staff.

Ceremony and Award

Each Graduate Division Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award recipient (two) will receive $1500 to promote career development and an engraved platter from Annieglass.

Winners will be announced, recognized, and honored (and receive their Annieglass platters) at the annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium during spring quarter.