Dear Colleagues,
The Virginia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi, with support from the Virginia Tech Office of Research, is pleased to announce the 2025 Research Awards, recognizing outstanding student researchers at the undergraduate, M.S., and doctoral levels. Two $1,000 awards will be presented in each academic category, thanks to generous support from the Waste Policy Institute. These awards highlight student research with a well-articulated environmental dimension, broadly defined to include natural, social, built, and engineered environments. Eligible projects should demonstrate a clear and well-justified connection to environmental systems—ranging from cellular, organismal, or molecular biology to fields such as environmental engineering, ecology, climate science, sustainability, public health, and related areas.
We invite you to share this announcement widely with faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers in your department.
Nomination Process:
Nominations should be submitted by the department head and/or research mentor using the survey link below. The nominator will be asked to upload the following:
- The student’s CV or resume
- A letter of nomination outlining the student’s research contributions and the broader environmental relevance of their work
Please indicate in the nomination if either the student or their research mentor is a Sigma Xi member.
Submission Link: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AcDSBZ508a
Eligibility Criteria:
- A strong academic record (minimum 3.0 QCA or better)
- The student must be conducting research and enrolled at Virginia Tech during at least the Fall semester of the 2025–2026 academic year
- Willingness and availability to present a poster at the Sigma Xi Spring Reception and Induction Ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 3:00–5:00 PM
Award Details:
In addition to the $1,000 scholarship, awardees will:
- Receive a framed certificate
- Be inducted into Sigma Xi during the Spring 2025 ceremony
- Receive a one-year membership in the international Sigma Xi organization for the 2025–2026 year (www.sigmaxi.org)
Before awards are finalized, students must also register through Scholarship Central.
Additional Notes:
- Please confirm with the student whether they are already a Sigma Xi member (and obtain their member number, if applicable)
- Also confirm that the student will be available to attend the May 8 reception
Nominations are due by April 21, 2025.
Awardees will be notified within one to two weeks of the deadline.
Thank you for helping us recognize and celebrate excellence in student research.
Warm regards,
Sherif M. Sherif, PhD
ssherif@vt.edu
President, VT Chapter of Sigma Xi
Chair, Sigma Xi Research Awards Committee