Awards

Number Awarded: Up to 4

Monetary Award: $1,000

Based on University Criteria: Outstanding Faculty Award instructions

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

Outstanding Faculty Awards are made each year to members of the regular faculty, i.e. tenure system faculty and librarians in the continuing appointment system, for outstanding total service to the University. The nominations are based on teaching; advising; research; publications; art exhibitions; concert performances; committee work; public service including extension, continuing education and work with government agencies; or a combination of these activities. Administrative excellence and length of service may not be used as the sole criteria for nomination. However, nominees usually have at least five years of service at Michigan State University.

Outstanding Faculty Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Christoph Adami, Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology
• Dean Lee, Department of Physics and Astronomy/FRIB
• Shin-Han Shiu, Department of Plant Biology/CMSE

View past recipients

Number Awarded: Up to 2

Monetary Award: $1,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

Based on University Criteria: Teacher-Scholar instructions 

Teacher–Scholar Awards are made to members of the tenure system faculty from the ranks of assistant professor and associate professor who early in their careers have earned the respect of students and colleagues for their devotion to and skill in teaching. The essential purpose of the award is to provide recognition to the best teachers who have served at MSU for seven years or less.

Teacher-Scholar Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Haolei Weng, Department of Statistics and Probability

View past recipients

Number Awarded: Variable

Monetary Award: $9,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1

Money generated in the endowed known as the Norman L and Olga K. Fritz excellence in Teaching Award ("Fritz Teaching Award") shall be administered as follows.  The College of Natural Science shall award each year a teaching prize based on the following requirements:

1. The award shall be open to teaching faculty of any rank, fixed term or tenure, and shall be made in the spring. The College of Natural Science award selection committee, with student input shall select recipients.
   
   Guidelines for applicant selection will include
   1. Commitment to teaching the sciences with priority given to those teaching physics and mathematics
   2. High educational standards
   3. Superior classroom performance
   4. Well-developed, organized and sequenced instruction
   5. Provision for student participation that includes active learning
   6. Linkage with other disciplines
   7. Encouragement of critical analysis, problems solving and divergent points of view
   8. Incorporation of research results into instruction
   9. Concern for students in and out of the classroom
       
2. Students or faculty may nominate a candidate by submitting a nomination form and a letter of support that addresses the criteria listed in (2) above. The College will use pertinent criteria from the excellence in teaching component of the Beal Faculty award in the nomination and selection process. Nomination procedures for faculty awards specific to the college of Natural Science will be followed:
   1. A copy of the nomination form.
   2. A written statement addressing the criteria above with illustrations from recent teaching.
   3. Three letters of support.
   4. Current Curriculum Vitae.
   5. Summary of teaching responsibilities in science courses for the last five years.
   6. Summary Sheets for student instruction ratings of the nominees in one or more classes.
   7. The award will be included in the College awards brochure.
       
3. Multiple awards may be made in any one year depending on the available income in the endowment and on the judgment of the committee. Recipients are not eligible for the award more than once every 5 years. For FY 2019-20, the award will be $9000. 

Fritz Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Michael Murillo, Department of Mathematics 

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 1

Monetary Award: $2,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

Early Career Research Awards are given each year to recognize NatSci tenure-track faculty for outstanding research.  The Awards are based on success in publications, funding, and other criteria that signify excellence and promise in the awardee’s field.  Nominees usually have no more than 5 years as an associate professor. Preference will be given to faculty with their tenure home in NatSci. 

Early Career Research Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Benjamin Orlando, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Mark Iwen, Department of Mathematics/CMSE

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 1

Monetary Award: $2,500

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

Mid-Career Research Awards are given each year to recognize NatSci tenured faculty for outstanding research.  The Awards are based on success and impact of publications, funding, and other criteria that demonstrate excellence in the awardee’s field.  Nominees should be within twelve years post-tenure. Preference will be given to faculty with their tenure home in NatSci. 

Mid-Career Research Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Laura Chomiuk, Department of Physics and Astronomy 

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 1

Monetary Award: $3,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by  April 1.

2024-25 Recipients:

• Robert P. Hausinger, Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology

View past recipients

Number Awarded: Up to 2

Monetary Award: $1,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

Based on University Criteria: Undergraduate Teaching Award Instructions 

Undergraduate Teaching Awards recognize teachers who take pride in and are committed to quality undergraduate teaching and who demonstrate substantial continuing involvement in undergraduate education. All current fixed term and tenure system faculty and academic specialists (teaching) with at least three years of teaching experience at Michigan State University are eligible for nomination. 

Undergraduate Teaching Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Daryl McPadden, Department of Physics and Astronomy

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 1

Monetary Award: $1,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

This award recognizes the outstanding mentor who successfully guides a junior faculty member(s) successfully through their academic career path.

Criteria: A good Mentor recognizes the importance of strong mentoring and keeps the Mentee’s best interest foremost. The mentoring relationship must be confidential and built on a foundation of mutual trust and honesty.

The following criteria are to be addressed in nominations:

1. Professional Development. Serves as an effective role model and resource for channeling energies into successful research, teaching and institutional navigation. Assists in expansion of a professional network and creates avenues of recognition for the Mentee and their body of work. Works to clarify a balance of the Mentee’s new roles as a part of faculty, department, college, university and professional field.
2. Holistic Balance. Respects and accepts the Mentee as an individual in all aspects of life by expressing a genuine interest beyond the academic arena. This is exemplified by being a strong role model, serving as a resource for university support and encouraging the establishment and maintenance of a healthy balance of work and home life.

Nominations are accepted from the Mentor’s supervisor, colleagues, or mentee(s).

Retired faculty are eligible for nomination.

Junior Faculty Mentoring Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Robert L. Last, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Plant Biology

View Past Recipients

Number Awarded: 1

Monetary Award: $1,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

This award recognizes the outstanding mentor who successfully guides a postdoctoral researcher(s) successfully on their academic or non-academic career path.

Criteria: A good Mentor recognizes the importance of strong mentoring and keeps the Mentee’s best interest foremost. The mentoring relationship must be confidential and built on a foundation of mutual trust and honesty.

The following criteria are to be addressed in nominations:

1. Professional Development. Serves as an effective resource for successful research and navigating institutions. Assists in expansion of a professional network and creates avenues of recognition for the Mentee and their body of work. Helps the Mentee refine their research interests in preparation for the next stage of his/her career. Helps the Mentee effectively manage projects and personnel.
2. Holistic Balance. Respects and accepts the Mentee as an individual in all aspects of life by expressing a genuine interest beyond the academic arena. This is exemplified by being a strong role model, serving as a resource for university support and encouraging the establishment and maintenance of a healthy balance of work and home life both now and as the Mentee makes the transition to the next stage of his/her career. 

Nominations are accepted from the Mentor’s supervisor, colleagues, or mentee(s).

Retired faculty are eligible for nomination.

Postdoctoral Mentoring Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• A.J. Robison, Department of Physiology

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 1

Monetary Award: $1,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

Based on University Criteria: Distinguished Academic Staff Award Instructions 

The significant accomplishments and distinguished careers of outstanding academic staff contribute to and augment excellence at the University. The Distinguished Academic Staff Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of professionals who serve the University in advising, curriculum development, outreach, extension, research, and teaching.

Distinguished Academic Staff Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Chris Shaltry, Department of Physiology

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 1 in each category

Monetary Award: $1,000

The Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Advisor Awards are given annually by the NatSci Student Advisory Council to faculty or academic specialists who have shown exceptional expertise in advising graduate or undergraduate students in the college.

Nominate an advisor for the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award

2024-25 Recipients:

• Jennifer Green, Department of Statistics and Probabilty/PRIME  (Undergraduate Advisor)
• Michele Larson, Department of Statistics and Probability/EES (Graduate Advisor)

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 2

Monetary Award: $1,000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by April 1.

Criteria: This award recognizes support staff members who exhibit exceptional support to the College of Natural Science or one of its units. The recipient demonstrates excellence in job performance, supportive attitude, and contributions that lead to improved efficiency or effectiveness to better the College’s ability to fulfill its mission. A minimum of five years of service (by December 31 of the year of the award) to NatSci is required.

Nomination Procedure: The nominator must submit: 1) completed nomination form; 2) up to three letters of recommendation by individuals other than the nominator addressing the selection criteria. 

Selection: Nominations will be reviewed by the NatSci Awards Committee. 

Support Staff Award Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Allyson Hutchens, Kellogg Biological Station  
• Sachi Gorzenski, Biological Science Program 

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 2

Monetary Award: $1000

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by September 1.

Based on University Criteria: Excellence-in-Teaching Citation Instructions

Excellence-In-Teaching Citations are made to graduate teaching assistants who have distinguished themselves by the care they have given and the skill they have shown in meeting their classroom responsibilities. The essential purpose of the citation is to bring college-wide recognition to the best of the graduate teaching assistants and by so doing to underline the qualitative contribution which they are making to the undergraduate program.

Will need to be teaching during the previous academic year to nomination, and at least one of the following: Summer of previous year, academic year of nomination, and summer following nomination. 

Excellence-in-Teaching Citation Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25 Recipients:

• Riley Pizza, Department of Plant Biology 
• Anuki Nethma Wethalawe, Department of Chemistry

View past recipients

Number Awarded: 2

Monetary Award: $500

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by September 1.

Undergraduate Learning Assistant Awards are made to undergraduate learning assistants (ULAs) who have distinguished themselves by the care they have given and the skill they have shown in meeting their classroom and/or teaching laboratory responsibilities. The essential purpose of the citation is to bring college-wide recognition to the best of the ULAs and, by so doing, to underline the qualitative contribution they are making to the undergraduate program.

Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, each candidate must:

1. Be enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing in the College of Natural Science (NatSci)
2. Have held a ULA position for a minimum of one semester during the prior academic year of nomination (i.e., for the September 1, 2024 nomination, have held a ULA during Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and or Summer 2024).
3. Have not previously received this award

Nominations
Individual departments will ordinarily make a single nomination each year, but the larger departments may make as many as three. 

Nominations must be endorsed by the chairperson/director of the unit in which the ULA's instructional responsibilities have been discharged. When this is not the department/program in which the nominee is a candidate for a degree, the chairperson/director of the degree department/program must endorse the nomination.

The nominator, who is usually the faculty member who has supervisory responsibility for the ULA, must provide a nomination letter showing evidence of excellence in teaching (maximum 500 words); up to 3 supporting letters (1-page; maximum 500 words) from students, other ULAs, TA graduate students or other professors to whom they may have served as a ULA and the ULA’s CV.

Nomination Form (PDF)

2024-25  Recipients:

• Maclain McAllister, Biological Science Program
• Sarah Spindler, Human Biology Program

View past recipients

Number Awarded: Up to 10–no more than 2 from any one unit

Monetary Award: $2000 salary increment

Due to natsci.dean@msu.edu by June 30

Faculty Teaching Prize description/instructions

Faculty Teaching Prizes are made to fixed term and tenure system faculty and academic specialists in recognition of excellent teaching.

Nominations are made by department chairs during the annual faculty raise process.

Faculty Teaching Prize Nomination Form (PDF) For Chairs

2024-25 Recipients:

• Phillip Delekta, Department of Microbiology, Genetics and Immunology 
• Paul Nelson, Human Biology Program
• Juli Uhl, Human Biology Program

View past recipients