Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

Key dates
Announcement:	August 24, 2026
Submission due:	October 19, 2026

Purpose

The Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR) Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research Award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student trainee within the Institute based on cancer research excellence. An annual award of $1,000 will be presented to a trainee who has exhibited outstanding commitment, creativity, and excellence in cancer research, with a focus on making a meaningful impact on the field and has promise for a productive career in the field. The award will be presented to the trainee at the PICR spring awards ceremony.

Eligibility

The trainee must be enrolled as an undergraduate student under the direction of a faculty member in one of the programs of the Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research within the past year.

Criteria

Only research completed by the trainee while an undergraduate student at Purdue University will be given major consideration in evaluating:

• Research Excellence: Demonstrates meaningful contributions to a cancer-related research project and a clear understanding of its significance to advancing cancer research.

• Initiative and Engagement: Shows enthusiasm, leadership, and initiative through active participation in research, problem-solving, professional development, and scholarly activities.

• Future Promise in Cancer Research: Exhibits a strong commitment to pursuing a future in cancer research or a related field, with clear career goals and the potential to make lasting contributions to the scientific community.

Nomination procedure

1. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF file here by October 19, 2026.
2. The Cancer Research Training and Education Committee will serve as the selection committee for the
3. Nominations shall include in the following order:
   1. A letter of nomination from the trainee’s faculty mentor indicating justification of the nomination and a statement setting forth the significance of the efforts upon which the nomination is based; (limit 2 pages). Include a description of the trainee’s research project and its significance to cancer and other information including potentially awards and presentations.
   2. A personal statement from the trainee, which describes their interest in cancer research and what they enjoy most about working in this field. It should share their motivations for pursuing cancer research, including any personal experiences or aspirations. Provide a description of their research project and showcase experiences where they demonstrated leadership or took initiative. Finally, it should discuss their future career.
   3. The trainee’s CV or resume, including other activities, presentations, and any other relevant information.
   4. An unofficial Purdue transcript.

Recognition

The award recipient will be announced at the Annual PICR Awards Ceremony and will receive a $1000 monetary award and a plaque.