OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER OR SMALL RESEARCH TEAM AWARD

Outstanding Researcher or Small Research Team Award

Award Category Description

The Outstanding Researcher/Small Research Team Award will be given to a researcher or small research team (five or fewer members) who created an invention or inventive platform that led to significant and impactful federal technology transfer activities furthering their agency’s mission, and thus, that of the FLC. Nominees do not need to meet any certain threshold of experience.

Accomplishments should be related to the transfer of technology from the federal laboratory to industry or other organizations, including:

  • Support of FLC activities,
  • Internal accomplishments,
  • Industry/partner involvement, and
  • Community service

Each nominee (individual or team participant) must be an FLC Member Laboratory employee.

Explore past Outstanding Researcher or Small Research Team Award winners here.

Submission Criteria

All FLC Awards submissions must be submitted through the lab’s designated agency or laboratory representative.

  1. Describe when and how the nominee/nominee team first became involved with technology transfer at their laboratory and how this engagement with technology transfer as a whole aligned with their laboratory’s strategic goals and mission. [20 points/400 words]
  2. Describe any direct participation with outside technology transfer partners/organizations during the last five years that demonstrated leadership and supported the technology transfer process (for example USPTO, WIPO, AUTM, FLC or FLC-related activities like webinars, workshops, etc.) Specifically, describe the impact these activities had on the technology transfer process. [10 points/400 words]
  3. Describe the single best example of technology transfer which demonstrates the nominee’s/team’s innovation and/or creativity in transferring a specific technology, product, or service. Include a brief description of the technology in layman’s terms, the transfer process used, and the reason the transfer was significant. Highlight any novel strategies, tools, or processes developed or utilized to improve technology transfer. Discuss specific barriers faced and how the nominee’s/team’s innovative approaches helped to overcome them. [30 points/400 words]
  4. Describe the outcomes and any measurable impact of the nominee’s/team’s technology transfer activities. Has the nominee/team engaged new groups, including, but not limited to, industry, academia, state and local governments, and federal laboratories? Describe the nominee’s/team’s impact on federal technology transfer, including any tangible and lasting effect on the populace or marketplace, either locally or globally. Has the nominee’s/team’s work resulted in new product development, commercialization, and/or new partnerships? Include metrics and supporting data to demonstrate the impact on the laboratory. [40 points/500 words]

Note: The judges will have a wide range of backgrounds and expertise. Accordingly, please use non-technical language to the extent possible and explain technical terms where needed. Use clear, concise language in all narrative descriptions.