CNLM Awards

The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) offers awards to exceptional postdoctoral researchers, graduate trainees, undergraduate students, and Faculty Fellows.

Broadly, CNLM awards are intended to recognize excellence not only in research but also in service and commitment to CNLM mission and core values.

Trainee recipients will be presented with a plaque, $1,000 stipend and will be invited to present their work in brief Elevator Pitch format to the UCI academic community and the public at our annual CNLM Awards Ceremony.

Faculty, Alumni, and Team Science Award recipients will be presented with a plaque and invited to offer brief remarks at the CNLM Award Ceremony.

Learn about the 2025 Award Recipients

Graduate Student Awards

Renee Harwick Advanced Graduate Student Award

The Renée Harwick Advanced Graduate Student Award is funded by an endowed gift by Dr. Renée Harwick to recognize a graduate student who shows outstanding scientific promise and to support the completion of the student’s Ph.D. thesis.

John W. Haycock Memorial Graduate Student Travel Award

The John W. Haycock Memorial Graduate Student Travel Award was established by the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. John W. Haycock to assist an outstanding graduate student to travel and present research at a scientific conference.

Jared M. Roberts Memorial Graduate Student Award

The Jared M. Roberts Memorial Graduate Student Award was established in 2017 by the family, friends and colleagues of Jared Roberts, CNLM graduate student who passed away in 2016. The endowed award will reward an exceptional graduate student for outstanding scholarship and collegiality.

Norman M. Weinberger Graduate Student Award

The Norman M. Weinberger Graduate Student Award was established in 2018 by the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Norman M. Weinberger, Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior and Founding UCI CNLM Faculty Member. The award will recognize an exceptional graduate student that embodies Norm’s high standards for doctoral trainees.

Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Awards

Undergraduate Student Awards

Carol Becke r McGaugh Undergraduate Award

The Carol Becker McGaugh Award was established in 2003 by Carol Joyce Becker McGaugh and James L. McGaugh to recognize and reward an exceptional undergraduate student for outstanding scholarship and to support the student in completing research in their senior year.

Friends of the CNLM Award

The Friends of the CNLM Award is funded by annual contributions from our community of supporters to recognize an exceptional undergraduate for academic excellence and to support their summer research activities.

Carol and James McGaugh Award

In memory of Carol McGaugh and to honor Dr. James McGaugh, the Carol and James McGaugh Award was established in 2018 by daughter Janice McGaugh Morrow and son-in-law William Morrow. The award recognizes a hard-working student completing their 3rd year in the School of Biological Sciences with a strong moral character, integrity, and demonstrated potential for making a difference in neuroscience.

The James Tait Goodrich Award for Excellence in Neurobiology in honor of James McGaugh

This award was established in 2018 by James Tait Goodrich, M.D., Ph.D. and Mrs. Judy L. Goodrich to honor Dr. James McGaugh. The award recognizes an undergraduate student in the School of Biological Sciences completing their junior year, for outstanding achievement in neurobiology.

Faculty Awards

Exceptional Mentor Award

The Exceptional Mentor Award recognizes a CNLM Fellow who demonstrates a track record of excellent intentional mentorship, or who has impacted the climate of a department or graduate program to better support the training experiences of early career scientists, particularly those from historically underrepresented groups.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award recognizes an early career CNLM Fellow who is actively pushing boundaries and charting new paths in neuroscience research.

Distinguished Scholar Award

The Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes an accomplished CNLM Fellow who has made transformative contributions to the field of learning and memory.

Public Impact Award

The Public Impact Award recognizes a CNLM Fellow who is actively engaged in translating research discoveries to have meaningful impact on the community.

Engaged Alumni Award

The Engaged Alumnus Award is being established in 2024 to celebrate and honor alumni who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and continued engagement with the CNLM following the completion of their degree or training at the Center. This award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to the Center's community, mission, and culture through their continued involvement, support, and advocacy.

Team Science Award

Trainee Awards - How to Apply

Please note the following important conditions before you apply:

Applications are to be submitted by the candidates themselves and not by faculty sponsors.
Each award has distinct evaluation criteria and eligibility requirements. Please read through the requirements carefully before applying. Ineligible candidates will not be considered.
All applications require four components:
1. 2 page CV/biosketch;
2. Unofficial transcript (for undergraduate and graduate students);
3. Personal statement (500 words maximum; please note different criteria for each award); and
4. Recommendation letter by sponsoring faculty member
Once applications are submitted, the faculty sponsor will be automatically contacted to request a recommendation letter.
You may apply for ONLY ONE award but you may be additionally considered for a different award from the one for which you applied (depending on availability of funds and competitiveness of the applicant pool).
Decisions will be made by an awards committee composed of faculty members appointed by the CNLM director.

Faculty Awards - How to Nominate

Applications are to be submitted by members in the CNLM community (self-nomination is not allowed). Co-nomination by multiple individuals is permitted.

Each award has distinct evaluation criteria and eligibility requirements. Ineligible nominees will not be considered.
All applications require the following:
1. Nomination Statement (no more than 2 pages);
2. 2 page CV/biosketch
Decisions will be made by an awards committee composed of faculty members appointed by the CNLM director.

Engaged Alumni Award - How to Nominate

Nominations should be submitted on behalf of the alumnus/alumna. Self-nominations are not allowed. Co-nomination by more than one individual is permitted. Eligible nominees will have earned a degree or trained in a CNLM laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow.

All applications require the following:
1. Nomination Statement (no more than 2 pages) that describes the nominee, their affiliation with the CNLM, and an overview of their engagement and impact on the Center.
2. 2 page CV/biosketch
3. Optional letters of support (no more than 2)
Decisions will be made by an awards committee composed of faculty members appointed by the CNLM director.

Team Science Award - How to Apply

Applications are to be submitted by one representative of the team.

CNLM Fellows and trainees in their laboratories may apply.
Eligible teams may be comprised of faculty, staff, trainees, students, as well as community and industry partners.
The team research being recognized should be focused on a specific scientific goal that otherwise may not be realized by any single component of the team.
All applications require the following:
1. Research Statement (no more than 2 pages): This should describe the candidate team's novel and significant work in the area of learning and memory. The statement must specifically outline the team's current research activity and indicate how their collective research advances our understanding of learning and memory.
2. Contributions: A listing of scientific publications, presentations, grants, media coverage, or any other collective work highlighting the team's joint scientific contributions that justify the nomination.
3. Team: a listing of all team members that includes professional title(s), affiliation(s), primary research area(s), and a brief description of each member's substantive contributions to the team.
4. 2 page CV/biosketch of each team member listed above.
Decisions will be made by an awards committee composed of faculty members appointed by the CNLM director.