How to Apply
~Applications Open Monday, July 6th, 2026~
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs is accepting applications for the Postdoctoral Award for Research Excellence (PARE award). The awards, open to postdocs in all disciplines, are designed to recognize the important contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to UNCโs research enterprise. PARE awards recognize postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate excellence and exceptional promise during their UNC postdoctoral appointment. Awards may recognize achievements in research, leadership, advocacy, service, mentoring, teaching, and other contributions to the UNC community. Five postdoctoral scholars will receive a $1,200 award.
Information Session
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will host a virtual information session on Thursday, July 16th, 2026 from 12:00-1:00 PM. Registration will open soon.
Eligibility
The following terms apply to the awards:
- Applicants must be full-time and fall into one of two Human Resources designations: Postdoctoral Fellow/Trainee or Postdoctoral Research Associate.
- Applicants must expect to remain in their postdoc appointment until at least until December 31, 2026, at the time of application.
- PARE awards recipients will be announced during National Postdoc Appreciation Week (September 21-25, 2026).
- The application deadline is 3PM on Friday, August 7th, 2026 (no exceptions).
Categories
PARE Awards will be awarded in the following categories:
- Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- STEM and Health Sciences
Application Instructions
To apply for a 2026 PARE award, postdoctoral scholars must submit all required materials via the online portal: https://go.unc.edu/PARE2026 (link will become active on July 6th). Submissions must include the following:
- Online Submission Form (completed within the portal)
- Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Research Statement (maximum 2 pages)
Mentor Support Letter: A letter from the mentor is required and must be emailed directly by the mentor to [email protected]. Letters submitted by applicants will not be accepted.
All materials must be received no later than 3:00 PM on Friday, August 7th, 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Full descriptions of each application component are detailed below.
Overview of Submission Materials
Applicant Information Form
- This form, included in the submission portal, includes sections for the individual’s name, email, school, department, PI/supervisor, UNC start date, a 3-sentence research narrative in lay language, and 3-5 keywords.
- Applicants must select which award category they are applying for.
Current Curriculum Vitae
- Please ensure your materials are in a properly formatted CV format.
- Highlight the relevant publications and achievements from your UNC postdoctoral experience.
Research Statement
- Applications should be written for a non-expert audience and will be assessed by a multidisciplinary review panel.
- The research statement should be no more than 2 pages, excluding references. References should be limited to 1 additional page.
- Describe the significance of your current research, your accomplishments and contributions during your UNC postdoctoral appointment, and your short- and long-term research goals.
- Evaluation of each candidate will be primarily based on accomplishments within the context of time spent as a postdoctoral scholar at UNC.
Mentor Support Letter
A signed letter of endorsement from the applicantโs mentor, on departmental letterhead, should be emailed to [email protected] directly from the mentor. Please review the selection criteria:
- The letter should describe the nomineeโs postdoctoral research at UNC, specific contributions to research and research productivity, and the significance or impact of the work.
- Mentoring or other activities that are relevant to the postdoc scholarโs contributions may also be described.
- The letter should present a clear case, based on the supporting evidence in the nomination, for why the postdoctoral scholar merits the distinction this award represents.
- The nominator should also include the following information in the letter:
- the nomineeโs total time as a postdoctoral scholar at UNC and elsewhere;
- the number of postdoctoral scholars the nominator has supervised and the nomineeโs relative standing among those scholars (e.g., top 5%, top 1, etc.).
- an email address for further contact regarding the nomination;
Selection Criteria
It is critical that the materials are adequately formatted for a review panel of experts beyond your discipline. Candidates will be evaluated using a rubric with the following evaluation categories:
- Research Excellence & Recognition (50%)
- Assesses the candidate’s scholarly contributions, research productivity, and visibility within their field. Includes traditional and non-traditional outputs, recognition through awards, grants, or fellowships, and evidence of influence such as citations or invited talks.
- Research Vision and Future Direction (20%)
- Clarity and ambition of the candidate’s research agenda. Assesses significance of the proposed direction, independence of thought, and potential for sustained contribution beyond the postdoctoral period. Effectively conveys broader societal relevance to a multidisciplinary audience.
- Innovation, Creativity & Broader Impact (15%)
- Considers originality, independence of thought, and contributions to novel or cross-disciplinary work. Includes broader impacts such as societal benefit, public engagement, and collaborative or translational research.
- Leadership, Mentoring & Engagement (15%)
- Recognizes meaningful involvement in mentoring, lab leadership, departmental or institutional service, and contributions to teaching or community engagement. Includes roles in postdoc associations, outreach, and professional development initiatives.
Selection Process
The award selection committee will be composed of multidisciplinary faculty and staff. PARE awards recipients will be announced during 2026 National Postdoc Appreciation Week (Sept 21-25). Award recipients will be honored at the annual UNC PARE Awards Ceremony held during UNCโs Research Week (October 19-23, 2026). Award recipients are required to attend the ceremony and give a 10-minute presentation highlighting their research. Plaques will be presented to each awardee by Dr. Penny Gordon-Larsen, Vice Chancellor for Research.