Exemplary Researcher Award

This College-level award recognizes successful, currently active researchers with exemplary research activity, publication record, and a graduate/undergraduate student mentorship program. The nomination process allows for nominations from three categories: Lifetime Career Achievement, Mid-Career Achievement and Early Career Achievement.

2025 Winner

Dr. Deepak Kumar

Kumar joined ESF’s Department of Chemical Engineering in 2019 and quickly became a leader in sustainable technology. His lab develops eco-friendly solutions such as PFAS-removal materials and biodegradable plastics from industrial waste. Known for bridging innovation and real-world application, Kumar collaborates with teams nationwide and globally.

Since 2020, he has published over 65 of his 94 peer-reviewed papers, accumulating more than 5,000 citations and earning an H-index of 35. He is editor of “Sustainable Biorefining of Woody Biomass to Biofuels and Biochemicals” book and has contributed extensively to conferences and book chapters.

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The Award

Each year, one researcher will be selected from all nominations submitted who is exemplary in their research productivity. The award, made annually, includes:

A $5,000 research award to be deposited in the recipient’s research incentive account.
A plaque will be given to the researcher for personal display, and their name will be added to the permanent display in Bray Hall listing all annual awardees.

The recipient will present a campus-wide research seminar during the following academic year. The award will be highlighted at venues that include Academic Governance meetings and ESF all-campus communications.

Lifetime Career Achievement

Purpose: To recognize outstanding career achievements in research activity.
Eligibility: Researchers who have attained more than 20 years since receiving the terminal degree and have been employed by ESF for a minimum of 10 years.

Criteria: Documented evidence of outstanding research accomplishments and impact of their work on their discipline; outstanding national and international recognition in the academic community; evidence of a substantial positive impact of research mentorship through undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral trainees.

Mid-Career Achievement

Purpose: To recognize outstanding research achievements at the mid-career stage.
Eligibility: Researchers who have attained 11 to 20 years since receiving the terminal degree and have been employed by ESF for a minimum of 7 years.

Criteria: Documented evidence of outstanding research accomplishments and impact of their work on their discipline; significant national and/or international recognition in the academic community; evidence of a positive impact of research mentorship through undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral trainees.

Early Career Achievement

Purpose: To recognize accomplishments in research unusually early in their professional career.
Eligibility: Researchers who have attained no more than 10 years since receiving the terminal degree and have been employed by ESF for a minimum of 3 years.
Criteria: Documented evidence of exemplary research accomplishments in their field; national and/or international recognition in the academic community; evidence of a positive impact of research mentorship through undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral trainees.

Previous Award Winners