Dean of Science Awards for Graduate Leadership

Nominations now accepted!
Deadline: June 19, 2023

The annual Dean of Science Awards for Graduate Leadership were established in 2023 to recognize graduate students in the Faculty of Science that contribute positively to the campus and/or community life.  

Two recipients will be selected each year – one master’s student and one doctoral student – enrolled in a graduate program in the Faculty of Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Exceptionally, there may be more than two award winners in a given year.

Guidelines and Criteria

The awards are based on areas that may include, but are not limited to:

  • Academic leadership – demonstrated by grades, mentoring activities, teaching assistantships and/or project or lab management.
  • Community or volunteer leadership – demonstrated by long-term contributions to student governance, student societies and/or professional societies, or actions that help improve and promote well-being of peers.
    Entrepreneurial achievement – activities involving the creation and development of initiatives including startup companies, new charitable activities, new conferences, etc.
  • Personal achievement – having overcome profound personal obstacles and
    demonstrated academic excellence despite challenges. 

Each award consists of a framed certificate and a cash award of $500.

Eligibility:  The award is open to all full-time current (enrolled at the time of nomination) master’s and doctoral students in the Faculty of Science who have not previously received the award.

Nomination: A call for nominations will be issued during the winter or spring semester. Nominations may come from the student (self-nomination), staff, faculty, and other students in the Faculty of Science and preferably from more than one of these constituencies. The formal nomination will be a maximum of one page, in the form of a letter. Required application components include: a cover letter (addressing above eligibility criteria), a resume, transcript(s), and two reference letters. Each department may nominate up to one MSc and one PhD student.

The award will normally be based on a continued pattern of exemplary performance over time; however, candidates who have made outstanding contributions or achievement in one particular activity will also be considered. Unsuccessful nominations may be carried over for one additional year at the request of the nominators, assuming the applicant is still eligible.

Nominations should be sent to science@mun.ca by June 19th, 2023 with the subject line “Graduate Leadership Awards”.

Adjudication: Departmental Heads and Associate Deans (or their delegates) will evaluate nominations. They shall establish their own process for adjudication of the nomination files, and may ask for any additional documentation necessary for evaluating any candidate.

In carrying out the evaluation, they shall consider such aspects as resourcefulness, initiative, dedication to high standards, support of equity, diversity and inclusiveness, and impact on the Faculty of Science.

The recommendations shall be made to the Dean. The Dean’s decisions shall be final.