Outstanding Researcher or Small Research Team Award

Award Category Description

The Outstanding Researcher or Small Research Team Award will be given to a researcher/research team who has made the most significant contributions to federal technology transfer. Nominees do not need to meet any certain threshold of experience but should be highly involved in a lab’s technology transfer efforts.

The FLC recognizes outstanding individual researchers or small research teams (five or fewer members) who have provided leadership and noteworthy support to the technology transfer process, furthering their agency’s mission, and thus, that of the FLC.

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(s) became involved with technology transfer, and how they have provided sustained support/service to technology transfer as a whole. Include any direct participation with the FLC or FLC-related activities (webinars, award winners, etc.) or outside technology transfer partners/organizations during the last five fiscal years that demonstrated leadership and supported the technology transfer process.
2. 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.
3. 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?

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.