Industry-Sponsored Research Award Nominations Now Open
Nominate an eligible colleague or submit a self-nomination for the Industry-Sponsored Researcher Award.
This award recognizes SJSU faculty and staff whose research was funded through the SJSU Research Foundation by a nonprofit or for-profit organization, with a shared output defined in the scope of work.
Nominations Submission Deadline:
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. PST
Eligibility Criteria
The nominee must have an awarded project that meets both eligibility requirements:
- The project’s funding must have been awarded to the Research Foundation and come directly from a non-profit or for-profit organization, with a shared output defined in the scope of work.
- The awarded project must have an award amount of $10,000 or greater with a project completion date within the 2025–26 fiscal year (July 1, 2025, to 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026).
Selection Criteria
Selection will be based on:
- Amount of awarded industry funding.
- Creation of intellectual property.
- Student involvement and description of student outcomes.
Nomination Instructions
Nominations may come from university administration or the faculty member’s academic unit, including a dean, chair, or faculty member. Nominators do not need to be tenured or tenure-track. Self-nominations will also be accepted, and principal investigators submitting a self-nomination should notify their dean, department chair, or executive leader of their submission.
To nominate, complete the SJSU Research Foundation Industry-Sponsored Researcher Award Nomination Form. Nominations must reflect awarded industry-sponsored projects that meet the eligibility criteria. Provide a concise statement explaining the nomination and addressing the selection criteria. The statement may be entered in the form or uploaded as a letter and must not exceed one page. Include a CV or resume.
Nominations Deadline:
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. PST
Selection Committee
The selection committee will consist of the Associate Vice President for Research, the Research Foundation Executive Director, the Director of Innovation, one faculty researcher, and a member of the Innovation Advisory Council.
Reward and Recognition
Each award recipient will receive a commemorative trophy, a cash award of $5,000, and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. The award will be presented at the annual Celebration of Research.
Save the Date:
2027 Celebration of Research
Date: Monday, April 19, 2027
Time: 2 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Location: Ballroom of the Diaz Compean Student Union
A profile of each recipient’s accomplishments will be announced to faculty and staff via email and featured on the Research Foundation’s website and in the Research Foundation’s Annual Report. This information may also be publicized in university media. Industry-Sponsored Researcher Award winners are expected to make themselves available for the year after their award to attend select Division of Research and Innovation events, speak about their RSCA journey at SJSU, and sit on the selection committee for the following year.
