Research Announcements

All application materials for the Olscamp Research Award should be submitted using our online application form by 5:00pm on February 13, 2026.

The Award

The Olscamp Research Award is awarded annually to a member of the BGSU faculty for outstanding scholarly or creative accomplishments during the previous three-year period. For purposes of this award, these accomplishments are understood in terms of such products as:

1. Refereed publications (books, monographs, articles, compositions, etc.).
2. Refereed presentations of scholarly papers, musical compositions/arrangements, or visual art works at national or international meetings.
3. Concerts/recitals, recordings, exhibits, and dramatic presentations.
4. Externally funded grant projects.
5. Patentable or licensable discoveries or creations.

Criteria

The quality of research is evaluated in terms of several criteria:

1. Significance within their discipline(s) or field(s).
2. National and international import.
3. Artistic or scholarly creativity.
4. Contribution to knowledge, culture, or professional practice.

Nominations and Applications

Individuals should nominate faculty using our online nomination form by 5:00pm ET on January 16, 2026. Self-nominations are welcome. However, nominations are not required to apply. Individuals may apply directly by submitting their materials to the Olscamp Research Award’s online application form before 5:00pm ET on February 13, 2026.

Application Materials

Individuals should submit the following materials using our online application form:

1. An account of the nominee's research accomplishments over the last three years (1 to 3 single-spaced pages).
2. A current copy of the nominee's CV.
3. A maximum of five external review documents. 
   • These may include:
     1. published reviews of the applicant's work,
     2. reviews of grant proposals, and
     3. solicited letters from experts in the discipline.

Outstanding Early Career Award

Aiming to recognize and reward scholarly excellence among early career investigators, this annual award provides discretionary funds for the support of future scholarly activities. Awardees are selected based on the quality and impact of their scholarly and creative achievements, their potential for continued professional growth, and the quality and significance of their long-term research plan.

Goals

This award is intended to:

• Enhance the academic career of junior faculty by providing discretionary funds for the support of future scholarly activities,
• Promote, recognize, and reward scholarly excellence among early career investigators,
• Support researchers and foster contact and cooperation with industry and institutions that support research and education, and
• Aid in building closer ties between BGSU and the local community.

Award

The award recipient will be announced at the annual Faculty Excellence Awards Ceremony. The recipient will receive a cash award of $2,000 in addition to $1,000 deposited into the awardee’s discretionary research account.

Submission and Selection Process

1. All application materials must be submitted to Division of Research using the Outstanding Early Career Award’s online application form by 5:00pm ET on Friday, February 13, 2026. The online form asks each applicant to submit the following materials:
   • A nomination letter from the applicant’s department, school, or academic unit
   • The applicant’s CV
   • A research statement that details the applicant’s research objectives, signature projects, impact, and future directions (1 to 3 single-spaced pages)
   • Up to 5 signature pieces (e.g., exemplar publications, information about externally funded grant projects, information about concerts, recitals, or exhibits, musical compositions/arrangements, refereed presentations)
2. Shortly after the February 13th deadline, the Division of Research will share application materials with each candidate’s Research Associate Dean and Dean. The dean’s offices will forward their comments and recommendations to the Division of Research by 5pm on February 28, 2025.
3. After receiving the deans’ recommendations, the Division of Research will share nominee packet materials with the Faculty Research Committee (FRC). The FRC will review the applications and share their feedback with the Division of Research. Reviews will be based on the nominee's demonstrated scholarly ability and potential significance of scholarly accomplishments and efforts in securing external funding support.

Eligibility Criteria

Early career scholars from all disciplines may compete for this honor. Award recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Hold a doctoral degree (or appropriate terminal degree for the field) as an assistant professor at the time of their nomination.
• All nominees must be un-tenured at the time of application[LH1] .
• Actively pursuing external funding as a BGSU faculty member; and
• Have not previously received the Outstanding Early Career Award (formerly the Outstanding Young Scholar Award).

Review Criteria

Criteria for selection will include consideration of the following:

• The applicant's accomplishments as evidenced by recent outstanding achievements, particularly the quality of research and publications.
• The institutional impact of achievements and potential for continued professional growth; and
• The quality and significance of long-range research and the appropriateness of the research plan to the applicant's academic setting and its probable impact upon BGSU as well as the scholarly community.

Review Process

1. The Division of Research will share application materials with each applicant’s Dean and Research Associate Dean for an initial review.
2. College Deans will forward their comments and recommendations to the Division of Research.  
3. The FRC will peer review the application materials and the Deans’ comments/recommendations. The FRC will provide feedback to the Division of Research. When an extremely strong slate of nominees is presented to the FRC, two awards may be made (funds permitting) or the committee may, at its discretion, defer making an award in any given year.