The Department of Chemistry awards outstanding continuing scholars a total of over $15k each year above and beyond stipend funding. You cannot self-nominate, but you are encouraged to make your primary research mentor aware of awards for which you may be eligible.
The awards on offer may occasionally be adjusted to account for funding availability and to better reflect the activities in which chemistry scholars demonstrate excellence. All faculty and scholars will be advised of the specific awards on offer each year so that eligible candidates have an equitable opportunity to pursue a nomination.
The review committee for graduate student awards is the graduate committee, excluding student representatives. Conflicted reviewers – that is, faculty acting as the primary research mentor for a nominee in a given category – will recuse themselves from the discussion of the awards for which they are conflicted. The graduate committee may solicit additional reviewers from the broader faculty and staff if two non-conflicted reviewers are not available.
In addition to the chemistry-specific awards listed below, scholars are advised to look out for Laney Graduate School’s Named Awards. When an internal department nomination is required, the graduate admin team will oversee the process.
ACS Graduate Student Recognition
The American Chemical Society (ACS) offers an annual recognition program for graduate scholars, currently recognizing exemplary achievements in three categories:
- Leadership in the Promotion of Research Safety
- Leadership in Mentoring
- Leadership in the Promotion of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect
The PhD program will nominate the winner of the Quayle Spectrum Scholar Award for the ACS Leadership in the Promotion of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect award.
The PhD program will nominate the winner of either the Quayle Citizen Scholar or the Quayle Spectrum Scholar for the ACS Leadership in Mentoring Award, with the nominee being determined by non-conflicted members of the graduate committee.
The PhD program may nominate one Quayle Award winner, in any category, for the ACS Leadership in the Promotion of Research Safety award. In order to be competitive, scholars should address research safety in their research summary and the nomination letter should also address specific leadership activities the scholar has undertaken in support of laboratory safety.
Quayle Outstanding Dissertation Award
Review Rubric
Awarded to the PhD scholar with the best PhD dissertation, defended in the 2019/20 academic year. Nominations are restricted to one scholar per research group. Nominations consist of a letter from the scholar’s primary research mentor and a supporting letter from an additional expert in the field. Letters should address the exceptional nature of the scholar’s research.
Quayle Excellence in Research Awards
Review Rubric
Recognizes excellence in research.
- Two awards will be given to scholars completing their second year.
- Two awards will be given to scholars completing their third year.
- Two awards will be given to scholars completing their fourth year.
Nominations should include a faculty nomination letter and a 1-page research summary written by the scholars highlighting their major research accomplishments. A scholar may only receive one “Quayle Excellence in Research Award” during their time at Emory (i.e. a scholar who receives a second-year award, is not eligible for this award in their third or fourth years.)
Quayle Early Innovator Award
One Award, $1500
Review Rubric
This award specifically recognizes scholars who have made significant contributions to developing a new line of research/project, significantly beyond work that was undertaken in the group before their contribution. The nomination should include a faculty nomination letter and a 1-page research summary, written by the scholar, that emphasizes their individual contribution to developing a new line of research.
Quayle Citizen Scholar Award
One Award, $1500
Review Rubric
This award specifically recognizes a scholar who has demonstrated excellence in research, and made a significant contribution to community building, outreach, broadening participation, public education and/or scholarship. The nomination should include a faculty nomination letter, a 1 page research statement (written by the scholar), and a 1 page outreach statement, written by the scholar, outlining the contribution to community building/outreach/broadening participation/public education/scholarship.
Quayle Teacher Scholar Award
One Award, $1500
Review Rubric
This award specifically recognizes a scholar who has demonstrated excellence in research, and also a commitment to mentoring others/education. The nomination should include a faculty nomination letter, a 1 page research statement (written by the scholar), and 1 page mentoring/teaching statement (written by the scholar).
Quayle Spectrum Scholar Award
One Award, $1500
Review Rubric
This award is given in acknowledgement of a graduate scholar whose personal and professional efforts over the past school year have contributed to diversity, inclusion and community engagement in the Department of Chemistry and/or the university more broadly. The nomination should include a description of specific actions undertaken by the scholar in support of full engagement. Nominations may come from any member of the chemistry community.