The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award aims to stimulate interest in research involvement at the undergraduate level and recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate and exemplify excellence in research.

Each year, OUR identifies and honors one undergraduate student researcher in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHS) and one undergraduate student researcher in Health and Natural Sciences and Engineering (HNSE) with a monetary prize of $500 each and a plaque acknowledging the award.

Eligibility, Application Process, and Requirements

UNLV undergraduate students enrolled during the fall semester with a declared major are eligible for consideration.

Student applicants are required to be nominated by an academic or administrative faculty member. Nominating faculty are required to submit the following as part of the nomination package:

  • A completed nomination form.
  • One-page letter of nomination describing the student’s involvement in the undergraduate research process, their continued success in research and contribution to research at UNLV and to their field, and evidence of quality of research through professional conference presentations, publication, external research funding and/or awards, and performance or exhibitions.
  • A current copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Successful submissions are expected to clearly demonstrate outstanding contributions to research by an undergraduate student during the calendar year.

Awardees are expected to meet the requirements listed below:

  • Present at one of OUR’s triannual research symposia.
  • Represent OUR in research-related events.
  • Awardees in the advanced stages of their research are strongly encouraged to submit a manuscript to Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal.

​â¶Ä‹2023

  • Jocelyn Chavez Rios
  • Eden Wolde

2022

  • Emily Huerta
  • Elia Del Carmen Solano-Patricio

​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹2021

  • Vanessa Booth
  • Aaron Cheng

2020

  • Mary Blankenship

2019

  • Michael Schwob 

2018

  • Sophia Araujo-Hernandez

2016

  • Diana Pena
  • Justin Le