Ag Research Award

The annual Purdue Agricultural Research Award consists of a plaque, a $1,500 honorarium funded by earnings in the Charles Guthrie Patterson Memorial Endowment and Matthew Morgan Hamilton Funds, and $10,000 for the recipient’s research program. Agricultural Research has presented this award annually since 1982.

Required Nomination Materials

The Department Head is responsible for submitting all materials as one PDF file by the deadline, including the four-page nomination, a one-page department head statement, four sponsor letters, and the nominee's full CV. Only one application can be submitted per department. Eligibility is restricted to faculty with 18 years of experience beyond receiving their Ph.D. Timing is based on the year the call is released.

The nomination package can be up to four pages long and must include the following information:

1. Nominee’s full name
2. Departmental Affiliation
3. The date their Ph.D. was received
4. Email address
5. Educational background
6. Faculty Appointments (rank, date) and past positions
7. Membership in professional societies and organizations, editorial boards, grants panels, etc.
8. Select awards, honors, citations, and special appointments
9. The nomination section should clearly and concisely describe the nominee's contributions to the advancement of science, highlighting how their research has positively influenced agriculture, natural resources, or our understanding of ecosystem dynamics, food security, climate resilience, and sustainable practices, as well as its broader implications for enhancing quality of life. The statement should be interpreted broadly, as the research undertaken may not immediately impact on agriculture, natural resources, and quality of life (Limit to two of the four pages).
10. A statement on how the nominee has mentored their undergrad, graduate students, and post-docs.
11. The nominee’s 10 most influential publications (including impact factors and citation indices) with a brief statement (one to two lines) on their role in the work leading to the publication and why the work is significant.
12. Required amendments:
    1. The department head’s statement supporting the application and explaining why this is the department's best candidate. (Limited to one page.)
    2. Four supporting letters, with two from non-Purdue sources. All the letters supporting a nominee must be informational, clearly indicating the areas in which a nominee has contributed and a sufficient explanation of why selection as the AG research Award recipient is justified.
       The letters should cover:
       1. Demonstrated Research Excellence: They have showcased exceptional research capabilities by applying rigorous scientific principles to tackle significant challenges, leading to innovative solutions that address pressing problems in their field.
       2. Advancements in Scientific Knowledge: Their contributions have advanced theoretical frameworks and paved the way for practical applications, enhancing the overall body of knowledge within the scientific community.
       3. Impact on Society's Future: How their research has a tangible impact on enhancing the quality of life now or in the future. Will their work foster economic growth, community development, or environmental health?
    3. The full CV of the nominee, including a complete list of publications (including impact factors and citation indices), Refereed journal papers (including impact factors, citation indices), book chapters, and books; other technical publications, including published proceedings; published abstracts; invitational papers presented and research grants, and contracts.

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Past rec​ipients

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