The Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Research and Creativity Award for humanities, arts, and social science students is awarded for outstanding recorded presentations and multimedia at the Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase.

Please note that there are two Dean’s Prize applications: one for humanities, arts, and social science research and creative inquiry; and one for life science, physical science, and engineering research. You must submit the Dean’s Prize application for your field of study. Incomplete or incorrect submissions will not be considered for judging.

Eligibility

• Students with junior and senior standing who are submitting recorded presentations or multimedia to the Undergraduate Research & Creativity Showcase are eligible to apply for a Dean’s Prize award. You will be able to choose to whether you wish to do a recorded presentation or multimedia when applying to present at the Showcase. You should not select a live presentation if you would like to be considered for the Dean’s Prize.
• Students may submit an individual project or apply with up to six team members with a group project. Recorded presentations and multimedia are due by Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
• Students can only apply once per academic year. Applicants who are presenting multiple abstracts must select one abstract and presentation for consideration.
• If you have previously won a Dean’s Prize, then you are not eligible to reapply for a Dean’s Prize.

Apply by April 18

Dean’s Prize for Humanities, Arts, and Social Science applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on April 18. Applications materials must be submitted by the April 18 deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Judging Criteria

Students will be judged on their abstract, personal statement, letter of recommendation, and presentation. Judges will take into account argument, method, structure, clarity of work, and originality.

How to Apply

The Dean’s Prize application consists of two parts:

1. Personal statement (approximately 500 words for individual projects or 800 words for group projects) detailing your research or creative accomplishments, how you got involved in your research or creative project, and your future plans and/or research or creative direction. Students submitting a group project for judging should address their individual contributions and involvement with the project.
2. Letter of recommendation from your faculty mentor (or a faculty member who is familiar with your research or creative project). Only one letter of recommendation should be submitted for group projects. Be sure to provide your faculty mentor with the Dean’s Prize Letter of Recommendation form. The letter of recommendation must be received by the Dean’s Prize application deadline.

Submit Your Personal Statement

Dean’s Prize Letter of Recommendation Form

Awards Ceremony

The Dean’s Prize winners will be recognized at the Undergraduate Research Week Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 24, from 2-3:15 p.m. Winners will be notified in advance of the Awards Ceremony.

All Dean’s Prize nominees and their families, labs and mentors are invited to attend this virtual ceremony. Please join us in our celebration of exemplary undergraduate researchers and creatives.

Recent Winners

View Recent Winners

Questions?

Read answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ, or email urweek@college.ucla.edu.

Has your faculty mentor played a meaningful role in your undergraduate experience? If so, consider nominating your mentor for the Faculty Mentor Award!

This award honors the considerable dedication of UCLA faculty who consistently and enthusiastically serve as effective mentors to undergraduate students involved in research or creative inquiry. Students may nominate any UCLA faculty who has supported their professional development through a mutually trusting and respectful relationship.

Nomination Criteria

We seek nominations of faculty who:

• Develop mentees’ research or creative and professional skills
• Respect and support scholars’ goals
• Offer valuable career planning and job search assistance

Nominate Your Mentor by April 18

The deadline to submit nominations is 11:59 p.m. on April 18. You will be asked to answer one of the following prompts:

• Describe in detail why you feel your mentor went over and above to support and develop your research or creative and professional skills.
• Describe in detail a time when you felt your mentor offered valuable career planning or job search assistance.
• Describe in detail how your faculty mentor influenced and supported your scholarly goals.

Select the prompt you feel will best illuminate the reasons for which you are nominating your faculty mentor for this award. Your response should be 250 words or less and you are encouraged to cite specific examples in your response. To avoid any technical issues, please write your response in a separate word document and then paste the response into the survey text box.

 Nominate Your Mentor

Awards Ceremony

Award recipients will be recognized at the Undergraduate Research Week Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 24, from 2-3:15 p.m.

Recent Winners

View Recent Winners

Questions?

Read answers to frequently asked questions on our FAQ, or email urweek@college.ucla.edu.

The Library Prize for Undergraduate Research has long served to highlight how students use library materials and services to grow as scholars. The Prize is open to any undergraduate student who has completed a research or creative project or paper – either for a course or independently – over the past twelve months. Group project submissions are also encouraged. Awards range from $350 to $700 for eight categories, including projects in Science, Engineering, and Math, Music after 1900, Library Special Collections use, and Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Prize Categories

• Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences: first prize, $700; second prize, $400
• Science, Engineering, & Math: first prize, $700; second prize, $400
• Best project using resources from UCLA Library Special Collections: first prize, $700; second prize, $400
• Best project on music after 1900: one prize of $500, funded by the Hugo and Christine Davise Fund for Contemporary Music in the Music Library
• Best project using resources from the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: one prize of $700
• Best project completed for the Cluster program: one prize of $700
• Best project completed by a first-year freshman: one prize of $700

Apply by March 27

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27.

Apply for the Library Prize

Awards Ceremony

Prize winners will be announced at the Library Prize Awards Ceremony.

Questions?

Contact: libraryprize@library.ucla.edu.