Conference Award Information

Presenters have several opportunities to gain recognition for their presentation skills and excellence in research and creative scholarship. In order to be considered for an award, check up to two appropriate box(es) on the conference registration form to indicate your eligibility. Finalists for each award will be contacted at least one week before the conference at which time they will be required to share a copy of their research poster for award consideration.

Undergraduate Research Excellence Award

The prestigious Undergraduate Research Excellence Award recognizes students who holistically engage in research and are able to effectively communicate their results to a broad audience. Up to three (3) awards are given each year.

Eligible students must be graduating seniors who complete all requirements for the Undergraduate Research Excellence program (UREP) by April 1 and present their work INDIVIDUALLY (i.e. not as part of a team or group) at the annual Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference.

Please direct questions to Keri Swaby or Amanda MacDonald.

Policy Undergraduate Research Award

The Policy Destination Area (DA) is offering one or more undergraduate research award(s) for work presented in 2024 at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference. Awards will be up to $100.

Selection criteria will include:

1. Use of systematic data and analyses to address a problem that affects people, society, other living organisms or the environment;
   
2. research-to-practice translation with possible implications for governmental or nongovernmental action;
   
3. potential to inform more than one discipline;
   
4. originality of the research; and
   
5. accessibility of the presentation to a broad audience.

Interested applicants must indicate their eligibility on the symposium registration form. Judges will attend your presentation at the symposium. We anticipate awards notifications to be made the week following the research symposium.

ICTAS Adaptive Brain and Behavior Award

This award recognizes a student who makes a significant research contribution in exploring the dynamic nature of the brain as it changes and adapts across the lifespan and to a variety of different contexts, and applies their understanding of the brain to improve quality of life. First, second and third place awards will be given to the research projects dealing with topics relating to the Adaptive Brain and Behavior Destination Area (DA). Judges will review the presentations during the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference. All three winners will receive an award certificate. First place will receive a $150 honorarium and Second place will receive a $100 honorarium. This award is sponsored by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science.

ICTAS Critical Technologies Award

This award is given to a student who makes a significant research contribution in exploring a critical technology that improves quality of life.  Critical Technology is defined as a system, component, or process that is directed towards an application, rather than only towards creating new knowledge or understanding. First, second and third place awards will be given to the research projects dealing with critical technologies. Judges will review the presentations during the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference. All three winners will receive an award certificate. First place will receive a $150 honorarium and Second place will receive a $100 honorarium. This award is sponsored by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science.

ICTAS High School Award

This award is given to a high school student who makes a significant research contribution in their chosen field of research, and where they clearly articulate a research hypothesis, describe their research approach, present their data and analysis, and provide a conclusion demonstrating their contribution to their chosen field of research. First, second and third place awards will be given to high school students presenting exceptional research projects. Judges will review the presentations during the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference. All three winners will receive an award certificate. First place will receive a $150 honorarium and Second place will receive a $100 honorarium. This award is sponsored by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science.

Karen Roberto Award

This award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research involving the social sciences. The research presented should focus on individual development, health, and well-being at any stage of the lifespan or contemporary social issues challenging people and places, locally or globally. Students should employ social science methods, including quantitative, qualitative, and mix-method designs to conduct their research. One award of at least $400 will be awarded for an outstanding presentation and project, as judged at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference.

Stefan Duma Award

This award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research involving biomedical engineering. Presentations should focus on research relating to improving human health through engineering analysis. Student research can utilize experimental or computational methods. One award of at least $400 will be awarded for an outstanding presentation and project, as judged at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference.

Ben Knapp Award

This award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research involving creative arts. The research should focus on how technology and the creative process is integrated into and/or drives the research to create new innovation in the form of artifacts, installations, or performances. Students should employ processes such as digital/immersive or physical modeling, storyboards, animations, or similar techniques to generate and reveal the creative output. One award of at least $400 will be awarded for an outstanding presentation and project, as judged at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference.

Natural Resources and Environmental Research Award

Funded by the College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE), this award of up to $500 recognizes excellence in natural resources and environmental research. A minimum of one individual associated with the presentation must be associated with CNRE either as an undergraduate student enrolled in a major or minor within the college or the work must have been conducted under the guidance of a CNRE faculty member. Student presentations will be judged at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference.

Service Learning and Research Award

This award is sponsored by VT Engage: The Center for Leadership and Service Learning and recognizes one exceptional undergraduate project at the intersection of research and service learning. Students will be judged at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference. Students will be awarded a certificate and their names will be added to a plaque on display in the VT Engage office. Non-graduating seniors may also be given the opportunity for conference travel if their application is accepted.

Past Conference Awards