Overview
The College of Engineering Faculty Innovator of the Year award recognizes a distinguished faculty member within the UConn College of Engineering who is advancing technological innovation with significant real-world impact.
This award honors a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to technology translation, successfully bridging the gap between academic research and commercial application.
Sponsored by the Matthew & Margarethe Mashikian Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub, this award celebrates the innovative research, entrepreneurial mindset, and translational achievements of our faculty.
The selected Faculty Innovator of the Year will receive:
- A $1,000 Award: to support continued development, validation, or commercialization efforts.
Note: In accordance with university policy, employees will not receive direct payments; instead, funds will be administered through a shadow account for eligible expenses such as lab supplies and travel. - University-Wide Recognition: An exclusive UConn Today article and spotlight feature, showcasing their technology and impact to university leadership, alumni, and industry partners.
Eligibility
Nominees must:
- Be a current full-time faculty member (tenured, tenure-track, in-residence, research or clinical) within the UConn College of Engineering.
- Be pursuing technology innovation with a clear trajectory for real-world application.
- Be engaged in research translation and commercialization, including but not limited to venture development, intellectual property creation, or strategic industry partnerships.
Self-nominations and peer-nominations are highly encouraged.
Evaluation Criteria:
Strong candidates will demonstrate measurable progress and impact across a combination of the following areas:
- IP Generation: A strong foundational portfolio of intellectual property, including patents filed, issued, or successfully licensed to industry partners.
- Translational Funding: A proven track record of securing funding aimed at advancing technologies toward commercialization (e.g., SBIR/STTR awards, industry-sponsored research, or private investment).
- Venture Creation and Commercialization: Active steps taken to commercialize research toward market deployment, including startup formation, licensing agreements, or technology validation alongside industry partners.
- Real-World Impact: Development of technologies, platforms, systems, or materials that address critical challenges in healthcare, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, or other key sectors.
Application Cycle
Submission Deadline: September 8, 2026
Awardee Announced: October 2026