Dean’s Awards

Overview

Graduate students in the biomedical sciences work tirelessly to master their research fields, learn advanced experimental methodologies, and tackle research projects at the forefront of knowledge. The best students make discoveries that change our conceptual understanding of basic biological mechanisms, reveal causes of human disease, or lead to changes in clinical practice. The Dean's Award for Exceptional Achievement recognizes these outstanding students.

The recipients of the Dean's Award for Exceptional Achievement for Advanced Students distinguish themselves during their graduate studies. All Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. students who joined a School of Medicine laboratory for their thesis research are eligible for the award.

Nominations from faculty mentors with primary appointments in the School of Medicine should include a letter, the candidate's CV, and an optional additional support letter. Nomination letters should confirm eligibility and address the evaluation metrics described below.

Nominations for the 2024 award are closed, and winners will be announced in July.

Dean's Award for Exceptional Achievement for Advanced Students

  • Eligibility for 2024 Dean's Award
    • Students in Ph.D. programs linked to the School of Medicine: Biochemistry, Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics, Cancer Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Chemical and Physical Biology, Epidemiology, Health Policy, Hearing and Speech Sciences, Human Genetics, Microbe-Host Interactions, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology.
    • Must have a mentor with a primary appointment in the School of Medicine.
    • Must have chosen a mentor and started their Ph.D. research in 2022 (typically, this refers to Ph.D. students who matriculated in graduate school in 2021).
    • MSTP students are eligible.
  • Metrics
    • Originality, significance and rigor of dissertation research
    • Excellence in research discovery as evidenced by fellowship awards, publications, and presentations at conferences
    • Mastery of a discipline as evidenced by classwork, qualifying exam, and performance in committee meetings
    • How the student has worked to improve the equity, diversity and inclusivity of the community
  • Selection committee

    Nominees will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the directors of graduate studies for each of the Ph.D.-granting programs in the School of Medicine. Walter Chazin, Professor of Biochemistry, will serve as chair and non-voting member of this committee for 2024. Questions can be directed to him at walter.j.chazin@vanderbilt.edu.

Past winners