Deadline: Jan. 12, 2026

Start a Nomination

The Professional Student Discovery and Innovation Award recognizes outstanding professional students at the University of Iowa who demonstrate exceptional creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments that advance knowledge and practice within their respective professional fields. Eligible students shall have completed at least one year in a professional degree program, such as MD, PharmD, DDS, DNP, JD, DPT, or equivalent. Self-nominations are not permitted. Deans, DEOs, department chairs/heads, faculty supervisors, or other senior faculty or staff may serve as nominators. 

Up to two awards will be made annually. 

Criteria

  1. Research and Innovation Accomplishments: Quality, originality, and significance of the student’s scholarly, creative, or translational work.
  2. Impact and Contribution: Demonstrated potential to improve professional practice, advance patient or societal outcomes, or influence policy or innovation.
  3. Quality of Presentation: Effectiveness and clarity in communicating discoveries and innovation to a non-specialist academic audience. 

Top candidates are required to present to the committee prior to selection of awardees.

Nomination and Selection Process

Required Documentation: 

  1. Letter of Nomination (maximum 750 words) describing the nominee’s achievements, innovation, and impact.
  2. Letter of Endorsement (maximum 1 page) from a second individual commenting on the nominee’s research and scholarly qualities. The nomination and endorsement must come from two different individuals.
  3. Nominee Statement (maximum 750 words) summarizing the nominee’s scholarly and innovative contributions and their relevance to the field or community.
  4. Nominee’s CV or Résumé (maximum 10 pages). 

Late or incomplete materials will not be accepted.

Presentation: 
Top candidates will be invited to deliver a brief (5-minute, 2-slide) presentation to the selection committee prior to final selection. 

Award Details

Each recipient will receive:

  • A prize of $1,000 and a commemorative gift.
  • Recipients will be recognized at a celebration in March 2026. 

Submission Process and Deadline

The deadline for submissions is Jan. 12, 2026. Applications should be completed by a nominator. 

Finalists will be invited to deliver a short presentation (5 minutes / 2 slides) for the review committee.

Nominators: CLICK HERE to begin the submission process. 

Click "Apply" and sign-in with your Hawk ID and password through the blue "University of Iowa Login" button. 

If you have problems or questions, contact Lauren Galliart (lauren-galliart@uiowa.edu) in the OVPR well ahead of the deadline. 

See all the Discovery and Innovation Awards.