Nominate Your Mentor


The University of Alberta Award for Outstanding Mentorship in Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities is a student-nominated award that recognizes those mentors that go above and beyond to help empower students to accomplish their goals and to foster the next generation of researchers.

The award is offered in four categories:

  1. Early Career Faculty (i.e. Assistant professor or equivalent, typically <5 years in their position)
  2. Established faculty (i.e. Associate professor or higher, typically >5 years in their position)
  3. Trainees (e.g. graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, teaching assistants, research assistants, other trainees) 
  4. Non-academic or technical staff  

Recipients in each category will be recognized with a certificate and a letter to their Dean, Chair, or immediate supervisor (as applicable), highlighting their commitment to high-quality undergraduate research mentorship.

If you have questions related to this award, contact us at uri@ualberta.ca.

Call for nominations for the 2024-2025 URI Mentor Award

Nominations are now open for the 2024-2025 URI Mentor Award! Students (or recent alumni) are encouraged to nominate mentors who go above and beyond in supporting undergraduate research. Students may nominate individuals who have mentored them in undergraduate research within the last four (4) years. A mentor can only be nominated in one category each year.

Nominations are adjudicated by a multidisciplinary committee of undergraduate and graduate students, based on the support mentors offer their students across four domains:

  • professional support
  • intellectual support
  • personal support
  • equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI)

Nominating your mentor is a great way to show appreciation for their mentorship and give back to those who have helped you in your research.

The deadline for nominations is January 13, 2025.

Nominate your mentor

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Mentor Award Recipients

  • Early Career Faculty: Dr. Ran Zhao, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science
  • Established Faculty: Dr. Rene Balland, Professor, Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
  • Trainee (grad/post-doc): Dr. Matthew Martens, Postdoctoral Researcher, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I nominate multiple people?
Yes! You can nominate more than one person. Please submit each nomination separately.
Can a group of students nominate a single mentor?
Multiple students can nominate the same mentor, but each student must submit their own, original nomination. Each nomination should be supported with specific examples. Duplicate nominations will not be sent for adjudication.
Should I use personal examples or keep it general?
Students are encouraged to provide detailed specific examples that demonstrate how their mentor has supported them, and to provide sufficient context for the adjudicators to evaluate your nomination.