The UConn Transformative Research Impact Award recognizes the positive and profound impacts that UConn researchers / research teams have on their institution, field of research, and the community, regionally, nationally, and internationally. “Impacts” are the direct changes in the world that stem from our research, scholarship, and creative works. Impacts can include policy changes; medical discoveries and enhancements; improved systems, designs and processes; and the enrichment of people’s lives.
The OVPR is offering this competitive recognition award to faculty researchers / research teams whose work has been completed within the last five years, and that makes a compelling story of the impact that their work has had.
Award Details
- Up to 10 Transformative Impact Awards in the amount of $5,000.
- The faculty member on the awarded project will be awarded funds for unrestricted use for their team (this could be for a course buy-out, materials & supplies, or support for a graduate student or postdoc or to be used for further project impact dissemination, etc.)
- Awarded teams will be formally recognized by UConn and OVPR Leadership
- The awarded impact stories will be highlighted in UConn Today.
- The awarded teams will work with OVPR and UConn Communication to share the story with via social media and with media outside of UConn.
- Certificate for team members (including GAs/ postdocs) to document their contributions.
- While awardees will receive separate recognition, all Transformative Research Impact Award Program applications will be posted on the OVPR's website: UConn Research: Real Stories. Real Impact.
Timeline
- The Transformative Impact Award Program will open for submissions on August 17, 2026 at 12 am.
- Applications must be submitted electronically through the UConn Quest Portal by Monday, October 5, at 12 noon.
- Award announcements are expected in the second half of the fall semester.
Eligibiity
- The Transformative Impact Award is available to: UConn/UConn Health faculty researchers and their teams who worked on a research project that was completed (or had significant deliverables) within the last five years and who is a/an
- Assistant/Associate/Full Professors in a tenured/tenure-track position
- Clinical and extension faculty
- Assistant/Associate/Full Professors-in-Residence
Transformative Research Impact Categories
- Research Impact comes in many forms! We've created broad categories for some of the most common varieties for ease of tracking. Applicants may check all the categories that apply.
- Academic -is the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to academic advances, across and within disciplines, including significant advances in understanding, method, theory and application.
- Cultural – contribution to people’s understanding of ideas and reality, values and beliefs.
- Economic – contribution to a company’s revenues and profits (micro level), and economic returns through increased productivity or economic growth (macro level)
- Educational – contribution to education, training and capacity-building, including through curricula, educational tools, and qualifications.
- Environmental – contribution to managing the environment, such as protecting natural resources, reducing environmental pollution, improving weather forecasting, and tackling the climate crisis.
- Health – contribution to public health, life expectancy, health-related quality of life, prevention of illness, and reduced health inequality.
- Legal - contribution to how legal decision makers (courts, legislators and policy makers) understand and develop the law in ways that promote justice, fairness and democratic values.
- Political – contribution to how policymakers act, to how policies are constructed, and to political stability.
- Social – contribution to community welfare and quality of life, and to behaviors, practices, and activities of people and groups.
- Other
Full Guidelines available at the OVPR website
Note: Submissions to this program are made via a third-party software application, SurveyMonkey Apply. The terms of use and privacy statements for this software apply to your use of it and to the information you provide in your application. Before proceeding with your submission, please review their terms and privacy statements linked below.
Transformative Research Impact Award
The UConn Transformative Research Impact Award recognizes the positive and profound impacts that UConn researchers / research teams have on their institution, field of research, and the community, regionally, nationally, and internationally. “Impacts” are the direct changes in the world that stem from our research, scholarship, and creative works. Impacts can include policy changes; medical discoveries and enhancements; improved systems, designs and processes; and the enrichment of people’s lives.
The OVPR is offering this competitive recognition award to faculty researchers / research teams whose work has been completed within the last five years, and that makes a compelling story of the impact that their work has had.
Award Details
- Up to 10 Transformative Impact Awards in the amount of $5,000.
- The faculty member on the awarded project will be awarded funds for unrestricted use for their team (this could be for a course buy-out, materials & supplies, or support for a graduate student or postdoc or to be used for further project impact dissemination, etc.)
- Awarded teams will be formally recognized by UConn and OVPR Leadership
- The awarded impact stories will be highlighted in UConn Today.
- The awarded teams will work with OVPR and UConn Communication to share the story with via social media and with media outside of UConn.
- Certificate for team members (including GAs/ postdocs) to document their contributions.
- While awardees will receive separate recognition, all Transformative Research Impact Award Program applications will be posted on the OVPR's website: UConn Research: Real Stories. Real Impact.
Timeline
- The Transformative Impact Award Program will open for submissions on August 17, 2026 at 12 am.
- Applications must be submitted electronically through the UConn Quest Portal by Monday, October 5, at 12 noon.
- Award announcements are expected in the second half of the fall semester.
Eligibiity
- The Transformative Impact Award is available to: UConn/UConn Health faculty researchers and their teams who worked on a research project that was completed (or had significant deliverables) within the last five years and who is a/an
- Assistant/Associate/Full Professors in a tenured/tenure-track position
- Clinical and extension faculty
- Assistant/Associate/Full Professors-in-Residence
Transformative Research Impact Categories
- Research Impact comes in many forms! We've created broad categories for some of the most common varieties for ease of tracking. Applicants may check all the categories that apply.
- Academic -is the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to academic advances, across and within disciplines, including significant advances in understanding, method, theory and application.
- Cultural – contribution to people’s understanding of ideas and reality, values and beliefs.
- Economic – contribution to a company’s revenues and profits (micro level), and economic returns through increased productivity or economic growth (macro level)
- Educational – contribution to education, training and capacity-building, including through curricula, educational tools, and qualifications.
- Environmental – contribution to managing the environment, such as protecting natural resources, reducing environmental pollution, improving weather forecasting, and tackling the climate crisis.
- Health – contribution to public health, life expectancy, health-related quality of life, prevention of illness, and reduced health inequality.
- Legal - contribution to how legal decision makers (courts, legislators and policy makers) understand and develop the law in ways that promote justice, fairness and democratic values.
- Political – contribution to how policymakers act, to how policies are constructed, and to political stability.
- Social – contribution to community welfare and quality of life, and to behaviors, practices, and activities of people and groups.
- Other
Full Guidelines available at the OVPR website
Note: Submissions to this program are made via a third-party software application, SurveyMonkey Apply. The terms of use and privacy statements for this software apply to your use of it and to the information you provide in your application. Before proceeding with your submission, please review their terms and privacy statements linked below.