CIP Robert Mason Outstanding Mentorship Award

A block W on Memorial Way on the UW Seattle campus.

THE AWARD

The CIP Robert Mason Outstanding Mentorship Award recognizes outstanding mentorship of students and junior researchers among CIP affiliated faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral scholars, and terminal degree students. It is intended to highlight the work of individuals making a significant positive impact on others and the CIP community.

Established in 2023, the CIP Robert Mason Outstanding Mentorship Award comes with an award of $1,000. The recipient of the award will be asked to sit for an interview with the CIP Assistant Director for Communications to highlight their mentorship and other work at the CIP. 

CRITERIA

The following criteria will be among the factors considered in the selection process:

  1. Excellence: successful nominees will have demonstrated excellence in their mentorship, including but not limited to showing enthusiasm, respect, advocacy and support of others.
  2. Collaboration: successful nominees will engage with productive collaborative research, teaching, and service efforts with mentees producing high-quality, impactful outputs. 
  3. Empathy: successful nominees will have demonstrated listening skills and empathetic engagements with mentees.
  4. Impact: successful nominees will have demonstrated that their mentorship has impacted students and junior scholars. 
  5. Inclusion: successful nominees will have demonstrated a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. 

SELECTION PROCESS & ELIGIBILITY

Each year, a selection committee reviews and evaluates all nominations. Each nomination is considered with respect to the award’s selection criteria. Decisions of the committee are final. The committee will consist of members of the CIP community.

In 2025, the nomination period opens March 25 and closes April 24. The award winner will be announced later in the spring.

Nominations may be made by individuals or groups; one nominator can nominate multiple candidates. Self-nominations are allowed; a letter of support from someone who can speak to the nominee’s qualifications is required. Prior nomination does not exclude a candidate from subsequent nomination/consideration. 

All CIP affiliated faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral scholars, and terminal degree students are eligible for the award. It is possible that the award may not be given every year.

The CIP seeks as diverse a pool of award nominations as possible, including a wide range of disciplines, experiences, and perspectives. 

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS

A nomination can be submitted in two ways via this form: 

1.) Responding to the following prompts in the form:

  • a.) Please describe why you believe your nominee should be awarded the Robert Mason Mentorship Award.
  • b.) Describe how the nominee has excelled as a mentor.
  • c.) Please describe a project that the nominee has worked/led that exemplifies their mentorship.

2.) Submitting a letter (maximum 2 pages) that details the nominee’s record of mentorship in alignment with the award criteria.