2025 Rutgers Brain Health Institute Research & Service Awards

1. Early Career Faculty “Rising Star” Research Excellence Award

The Early Career Faculty “Rising Star” Research Excellence Award recognizes promising Early Career BHI members who have made significant contributions to neuroscience or brain health research.

Award Criteria:

• BHI member with a doctoral level degree (e.g., M.D., Ph.D., Psy.D., Pharm.D., etc.). The Rising Star award is intended to support tenure-track assistant professors at Rutgers
• Have completed postdoctoral fellowship or residency within 7 years of the application deadline
• Have made significant contributions to our understanding of the biological underpinnings of the central nervous system’s function and dysfunction

Nomination Requirements:

• A brief letter of nomination by the faculty nominator of 1000 words or less (no self-nominations)
• NIH style biosketch
• A brief biographical statement of no more than two pages by the nominee including research accomplishments, grants, and a list *most notable* publications and awards

Review criteria for the “Rising Star” Research Excellence Award:

• The nominee has demonstrated research excellence through the quality and influence of their work in their neuroscience-related field. (e.g. as demonstrated by citation number and h-index)
• The nominee has developed an impactful research program at Rutgers.
• The nominee has established a research niche that is identified with them in their field at large.
• The nominee’s work has the potential to benefit the community or society at large.
• The Award honors accomplishments over the course of an individual’s career, not just research completed over the past 12 months.
• The nominee has shown a commitment to BHI through service, mentorship, and collaboration.

2. Mid-Career Faculty “Shining Star” Research Excellence Award

The Mid-Career Faculty “Shining Star” Research Excellence Award honors outstanding BHI members who have demonstrated scientific, academic, and intellectual leadership in neuroscience or brain health research over an extended period. This is intended for faculty at the associate professor or professor level who have made a lasting impact on their field and society. Nominees are expected to be acknowledged by investigators at large as leaders in their field.

Award Criteria:

• BHI member with a doctoral level degree (e.g., M.D., Ph.D., Psy.D., Pharm.D., etc.)  and be appointed as a tenure-track or tenured associate professor or professor at Rutgers.
• Completed postdoctoral fellowship or residency within 15 years of the application deadline.
• Made significant and sustained contributions to our understanding the biological underpinnings of the central nervous system’s function and dysfunction.

Nomination Requirements:

• A brief letter of nomination by the faculty nominator of 1000 words or less (no self-nominations)
• NIH style biosketch
• A brief biographical statement of no more than two pages by the nominee including research accomplishments, grants, and a list of *most notable* publications and awards.

Review criteria for the “Shining Star” Research Excellence Award:

• The nominee has demonstrated sustained excellence through the quality and influence of their research contributions.
• The nominee has shown a commitment to BHI leadership through service, mentorship, and collaboration.
• The nominee has been recognized for their excellence by their peers within the field.
• The nominee has established at least one research niche that is identified with them in their field at large.
• The nominee has developed and led a long-term research program.
• The nominee’s work has benefited the community or society at large.
• The Award honors accomplishments over the course of an individual’s career, not just research completed over the past 12 months.

3. Senior Faculty “Giant Star” Research Excellence Award

The Senior Faculty “Giant Star” Research Excellence award recognizes lifetime achievement by leading BHI members. It is intended for senior faculty, at the professor level, who have had a major impact in their neuroscience-related field and on society, and who stand amongst the foremost leaders in their respective field.

Award Criteria:

• Applicants must be a BHI member and appointed as a tenured professor at Rutgers.
• Made extraordinary lifetime accomplishments in neuroscience or brain health research.

Nomination Requirements:

• A brief letter of nomination by the faculty nominator of 1000 words or less (no self-nominations).
• NIH style biosketch
• A brief biographical statement of no more than two pages by the nominee including research accomplishments, grants, and a list *most notable* publications and awards.

Review criteria for the “Giant Star” Research Excellence Award:

• The nominee has demonstrated a career of sustained excellence through the quality and influence of their research contributions.
• The nominee has shown a commitment to the BHI through service, mentorship, and collaboration.
• The nominee has been recognized as a field leader by their peers, achieving both national and international prominence.
• The nominee has established at least one research niche that is identified with them in their field at large.
• The nominee has developed and sustained a long-term research program.
• The nominee’s work has benefited the community or society at large.
• The Award honors accomplishments over the course of an individual’s career, not just research completed over the past 12 months.

4. BHI “Exemplary Service” Award

As a pan-Rutgers institute, BHI depends on member faculty engagement to help achieve its mission. The BHI Exemplary Service award recognizes the significant contributions of BHI faculty in helping BHI reach its goals.

Award Criteria:

• Applicants must be appointed as a faculty at Rutgers.
• Made extraordinary contributions to BHI by for example, serving on committees, recruiting faculty, supporting its programming activities, etc.

Nomination Requirements:

• A brief letter of nomination by the faculty nominator of 1000 words or less (no self-nominations)
• A brief statement by the nominee describing contributions to BHI of no more than two pages

Review criteria for the “Exemplary Service” Research Excellence Award:

• The nominee has demonstrated commitment to achieving BHI’s mission.
• Examples of service to BHI include:

• • Charted new directions for BHI
  • Helped increase faculty recruitment
  • Helped increase recruitment of trainees
  • Resulted in new initiatives, programming and outreach that has helped make a more dynamic, supportive and inclusive Rutgers neuroscience community
  • Increased visibility and philanthropy for BHI.

5. BHI “Outstanding Staff Service” Award

The Outstanding Staff Service Award recognizes the exceptional contributions of staff whose work has significantly advanced the mission of the BHI. This award honors staff who go above and beyond their regular duties to strengthen BHI’s research, educational, and community goals.

Award Criteria:

• Applicants must be staff members at Rutgers (BHI staff** or staff from other Rutgers Schools/Departments)
• Have made outstanding contributions that advance BHI’s mission, including but not limited to:
• Administrative leadership and organizational excellence
• Supporting faculty and trainee recruitment
• Enabling successful research and educational programs
• Coordinating BHI programming, events, or outreach
• Fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic neuroscience community

Nomination Requirements:

• A brief letter of nomination by a faculty nominator or BHI staff member of 1000 words or less (no self-nominations).
• A brief statement by the nominee (up to 2 pages) describing contributions to BHI.

Review Criteria for the “Outstanding Staff Service” Award:

• The nominee has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to advancing BHI’s mission.
• The nominee’s service has resulted in measurable impact, such as:
• Improved efficiency, coordination, or execution of BHI programs
• Enhanced faculty, trainee, or community engagement
• New initiatives that strengthen BHI’s visibility and reputation
• Contributions to a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative environment

*The Director of BHI and the Chair of the BHI Awards committee are ineligible for the awards. Other members of the awards committee will have to be nominated by members who are not on the awards committee and will need to recuse themselves during the selection process.
**The Executive Director of Administration of BHI is ineligible for the awards.