Office of Undergraduate Research Mentor-of-the-Year Award

Mentors are a fundamental part of the learning experience and the Office of Undergraduate Research enables students to recognize those individuals who have made a positive impact on their research experiences at Mizzou. The Office of Undergraduate Research recognizes excellent mentorship in all disciplines of research and creative scholarship (ie: humanities, social and behavioral sciences, creative arts, physical and natural sciences).

This award is unique because it is awarded solely based upon student nominations! Only undergraduates or alumni who were mentored as undergraduates by the nominee are eligible to provide a nomination. Additional nominations from graduate students or other faculty will not be reviewed. For consideration, a mentor must receive at least one nomination from a current undergraduate mentee.

Eligibility

Any MU faculty member, post-doctoral fellow, graduate student or research staff whose mentee plans to present their research at the 2026 Show Me Research Week, Undergraduate Humanities Symposium or Visual Art & Design Showcase may be nominated. Mentors are eligible to be nominated every year; however, winners may not be re-nominated for five years after their award. See previous winners below.

Persons wishing to nominate an individual for this award should submit their nomination by noon on Friday, March 20, 2026 (before Spring Break).

To nominate someone you will be asked:

• Your name and information
• The mentor’s name and information
• How long you have worked with the mentor
• If others will support or nominate this mentor (To your knowledge.)
• To provide a short essay (500 – 1,000 words) describing why you believe that this person is deserving of the Office of Undergraduate Research Mentor-of-the-Year Award and listing accomplishments of undergraduates guided by the mentor

Provost’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

The Provost will recognize Mizzou benefit eligible, full-time faculty who demonstrate excellence in the mentoring of undergraduate students in research and creative scholarship through two awards annually:

• Life Science, Math, and Physical Science (STEM)
• Arts & Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences

Nomination packages are due by January 15 of each year. Additional information about the award and nomination process can be found here.

Recipient(s) of the Office of Undergraduate Research Mentor-of-the-Year Award will be announced at the annual Celebration of Undergraduate Curiosity and Creativity in mid-April.