Connect

The Hoos Research Champion Awards — a first-of-its-kind recognition program — aims to honor dedicated research staff who play a crucial role in advancing medical discoveries.  

The idea for the award emerged from the Spark Innovation Competition, an initiative launched in 2022 to encourage UVA Health team members to propose transformative ideas to enhance the institution’s culture. 

Jennifer Phillips, Director of Research Education for the Integration Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV) in the School of Medicine, Dean’s Office, submitted the winning idea. A UVA veteran with 30 years of experience, Phillips recognized the need for dedicated recognition of research staff. 

“What if the key to groundbreaking discoveries lies not just in our research but in how we recognize and value the dedicated individuals behind it?” Phillips asked. 

Roles Crucial to the Research Mission 

Despite having over 1,000 staff members supporting research, UVA Health previously had no award specifically recognizing these essential contributors. Faculty conducting innovative translational research depend on research staff for specialized expertise, enhanced productivity, and compliance management. However, retaining these highly skilled individuals remains a challenge in academic settings due to factors such as funding instability and a competitive job market. 

“There are a number of staff roles that are critical to the research mission of any institution,” Phillips notes. These include Clinical Research Coordinators and Managers, Regulatory Compliance Coordinators and Managers, Grants and Contracts Specialists and Administrators, Data Systems Developers, and Research and Data Services Librarians, among others. 

Jay W. Fox, Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology and Associate Director, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains the critical role research staff play at UVA: “The research staff provides bench-level insights into the work as well as continuity across projects. Research staff often have interactions with staff of other laboratories which are constantly leveraged to bolster the science of all parties. Without the expertise and dedication of research staff the laboratory research team would not be whole.” 

Impact on UVA Health’s Research Culture 

Phillips’ brainchild — the Hoos Research Champion Awards — will recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of research staff within UVA Health while highlighting their essential role in advancing the university’s research mission.  

These awards will also help enhance recruitment and retention efforts in these critical positions. Beyond individual recognition, the program is expected to have a broader impact on UVA Health’s research culture by providing well-deserved validation, promoting collaboration across departments, strengthening recruitment and retention, motivating excellence among staff, and enhancing the institution’s research reputation. 

“I’m not here to solve all the world’s problems, but I do want to focus on solving one,” Phillips remarks.  

Award Details and Eligibility 

Each year, three Hoos Research Champions will be selected. Winners will receive $1,000, an engraved award, and recognition in UVA Health publications. 

Who is eligible? 

Any UVA Health team member who conducts or supports research is eligible to be nominated. This includes (but is not limited to) research lab staff, clinical research coordinators, grants and contracts staff, core facility staff, and vivarium staff. UVA faculty and students are not eligible to receive this award. 

How are winners selected? 

A diverse team of evaluators, including faculty and research staff from across the health system, will review nominations and select winners. The review team includes representatives from the Office of Grants and Contracts, Office of Research Core Administration, and iTHRIV. In future years, past winners will also join the team of evaluators. 

Winners will be selected based on a holistic review of the following criteria: 

• Expertise 
• Attitude and passion for their job 
• Building others up (training or helping others) 
• Bringing people together 

Each reviewer will consider all aspects of the review criteria in their evaluations. We aim for a rigorous and fair selection process, and we also recognize that contributions to the research environment take many forms. Our goal is to ensure that all meaningful contributions are valued and that the process remains as inclusive as possible.  

How to submit a nomination: 

Submit nominations via the link below by April 11, 2025. 

• Name of nominee 
• Title/Department 
• Why they deserve recognition (e.g., expertise, passion, teamwork, or community-building efforts) 

Who can nominate? 

Any UVA Health team member can nominate a deserving colleague. 

Submit a nomination.

For any questions, please contact Danny Burdine, Director of Research Operations.