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Sigma Xi Student Research Awards

Call for Nominations: 2026 Sigma Xi Research Awards for Outstanding Student Researchers 

The Virginia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, with support from the Virginia Tech Office of Research, invites nominations for the 2026 Sigma Xi Research Awards, recognizing outstanding student researchers at Virginia Tech. 

Awards will be presented at the undergraduate (B.S.), master’s (M.S.), and doctoral (Ph.D.) levels. 

For undergraduate researches, the following two awards will be given:

  • B.S.: $650 (first place) and $597 (second place) 

In addition, student awardees will receive a 1 year membership in Sigma Xi, the Scientific research Honor Society, and be inducted into membership on May 6, 2026.

Awards will be processed through Scholarship Central and deposited into recipients’ University accounts. Thus, students must be enrolled for Summer or Fall 2026 to be eligible for the award.

These awards are supported through funding associated with the Waste Policy Institute. Accordingly, nominated research should have a broad but justifiable connection to environmental systems, including social, structural (built), behavioral, organismal, cellular, or molecular aspects of environmental science. 

Nomination Process 

Nominations should be submitted by the department head and/or the student’s research mentor using the survey link below. 

The nominator will be asked to upload: 

  • The student’s CV or résumé 
  • A letter of nomination describing the student’s research contributions and the environmental relevance of their work 

Please also indicate whether the student or their research mentor is a Sigma Xi member. 

Submission Form

Eligibility Criteria 

Applicants must: 

  • Have a strong academic record (minimum 3.0 QCA) 
  • Be enrolled at Virginia Tech and conducting research during the Fall 2026 semester 
  • Be available to present a poster at the Sigma Xi Spring Reception and Induction Ceremony 

The ceremony is scheduled for: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 3:00–5:00 p.m. 

Important Dates 

Nomination Deadline: April 10, 2026

Notification of Awardees: Within 1–2 weeks after the deadline 

Thank you for helping us recognize and celebrate excellence in student research at Virginia Tech. 

Please email any questions to Dr. Deborah Good, co-Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.