Engineering Graduate Symposium Technical Session
Competition Guidelines

All abstracts submitted to the symposium will be enrolled in this student competition.  This is a competition among students in the same technical session. Only one student will be awarded per technical session. Winners will be announced by e-mail during the symposium and will be awarded during the final ceremony.

Eligibility Criteria:

• All abstracts are automatically enrolled in this competition.
• Competing students should attend the symposium and stay in front of their posters to discuss their research and scientific merits in front of judges.

 The Review Process:

• Presenter’s research is evaluated on its originality, scientific merits, structure, and clarity of composition.
• All submissions will be reviewed by at least two independent faculty members (judges) working in the same or similar research areas.

Award:

• The first, second, and third place winners from each session will receive an honorarium and a Certificate of Merit.  In the case of a tie, the honorarium will be split between the two winners.
• Winners will be announced by e-mail during the symposium and will be awarded during the final ceremony.
• Winners will be highlighted on the CoE website. 
• Winners will be honored at the CoE Leaders & Honors Brunch in March.

Richard and Eleanor Towner Prize for Outstanding Ph.D. Research
Award Guidelines

This is a college-level competition across departments for Ph.D. graduate students who are within one and one-half years of degree completion.  It is intended to highlight the innovation and creativity demonstrated by our Ph.D. students, and will reward their outstanding research achievements.  Departments may each nominate one graduate student for this award.  Nominated students must present a poster at the Engineering Graduate Symposium and submit additional materials.  A panel will select three student winners for this award.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Only students nominated by departments are entered into the competition.
• Candidates should be within one and one-half years of degree completion.
• Nominated students must present a poster on an engineering research project/topic.
• Innovative research demonstrating a keen sense of creativity and inventiveness are the key criteria for the Ph.D. award.  The impact that the research will have on society and/or whether the candidate’s research addresses a significant scientific or technological issue will also be considered.

The Review Process:

• Graduate chairs will nominate Ph.D. students for this award.  Graduate chairs/departments may use any selection process they desire to nominate students.
• Nomination materials include 2 letters of recommendation (one from the student’s advisor), and a CV that includes links to the student's online publications and/or patents (publications/patents should be in print and available on the internet).
• Nomination deadline of October 21, 2011.
• Nominated students must submit an abstract for the Engineering Graduate Symposium.
• Students will be judged during their poster presentation and via their nomination materials by a panel of judges.
• Three Ph.D. students will be chosen as the winners.

Award:

• Each winner will receive $2,500. 
• Winners will be highlighted on the CoE website.
• Winners will be honored at the CoE Leaders & Honors Brunch in March.