Rutgers Brain Health Institute Research & Service Awards

The new Rutgers Brain Health Institute (BHI) annual awards recognize the outstanding research and service contributions of faculty and staff who are BHI members. All current BHI-affiliated Rutgers faculty and their staff are eligible for nomination by their faculty colleagues under one of the nomination categories. Each awardee will be recognized with a plaque and a monetary award at a ceremony to be held on December 10, 2024. Please see a list of the awards below.

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

The Rutgers Brain Health Institute has established an award recognizing promising Early Career Investigators 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 time the award is given
  • Have made significant contributions to our understanding the biological underpinnings of the central nervous system’s function and dysfunction

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.

Submission Due: Applications must be submitted by the nominator as a single PDF file to bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu by November 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM

Award Ceremony: December 10, 2024, at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick.

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 field. (e.g. as demonstrated by citation number and H-index)
  • The nominee has developed an impactful research program at Rutgers.
  • The nominee's work has the potential to benefit the community or society at large.
  • The awards honor accomplishments over the course of an individual’s career, not just research completed over the past 12 months.

Questions? Please direct them to the BHI awards committee at bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu.

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 of time. It is intended for faculty, at the associate professor or professor level, who have had a lasting impact in their field and on society, and who are acknowledged as leaders in their respective field.

Award Criteria:

  • Applicants must have a doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., etc.) and be appointed as a tenure-track or tenured associate professor or professor at Rutgers.
  • Have completed postdoctoral fellowship or residency within 15 years of the time the award is given
  • Have made significant and sustained contributions to our understanding the biological underpinnings of the central nervous system’s function and dysfunction

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.

Submission Due: Applications must be submitted by the nominator as a single PDF file to bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu by November 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM

Award Ceremony: December 10, 2024, at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick.

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 mentorship and collaboration.
  • The nominee has been recognized for their excellence by their peers within the field.
  • The nominee has developed and maintained a long-term research program.
  • The nominee’s work has been applied or utilized to benefit the community or society at large.
  • The awards honor accomplishments over the course of an individual’s career, not just research completed over the past 12 months.

Questions? Please direct them to the BHI awards committee at bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu.

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 notable impact in their field and on society, and who stand amongst the foremost leaders in their respective field.

Award Criteria:

  • Applicants must be appointed as a tenured professor at Rutgers.
  • Have made extraordinary lifetime accomplishments in neuroscience or brain health research.

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.

Submission Due: Applications must be submitted by the nominator as a single PDF file to bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu by November 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM

Award Ceremony: December 10, 2024, at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick.

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 mentorship and collaboration.
  • The nominee has been recognized as a field leader by their peers, achieving both national and international prominence.
  • The nominee has developed and sustained a long-term research program.
  • The nominee’s work been applied or utilized to benefit the community or society at large.
  • The awards honor accomplishments over the course of an individual’s career, not just research completed over the past 12 months.

Questions? Please direct them to the BHI awards committee at bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu.

4. BHI “Exemplary Service” Award

As a pan Rutgers institute, BHI is dependent on member faculty and their staff to help achieve its vision and mission. The BHI Exemplary Service award recognizes the significant contributions of BHI faculty and their staff in helping BHI reach its goals.

Award Criteria:

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

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.

Submission Due: Applications must be submitted by the nominator as a single PDF file to bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu by November 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM

Award Ceremony: December 10, 2024, at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick.

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

  • The nominee has shown a commitment to achieving BHI’s vision and mission.
  • The nominee’s service to BHI has:
     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.

Questions? Please direct them to the BHI awards committee at bhi@bhi.rutgers.edu.