Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal Best Article Award

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal Cover Artwork Award identifies the best article published in each issue, regardless of its academic discipline. The award intends to foster undergraduate research publication and boost submissions to Spectra. For each issue, all published articles will be automatically considered for this award and authors are not required to apply to be considered.

OUR identifies and honors one article and awards its authors with a plaque acknowledging the award. Upon students’ request, a letter of achievement will be sent to the authors’ faculty mentors, department chairs, and/or deans.

Eligibility, Application Process, and Requirements

All Spectra authors who are published in the particular issue of Spectra will be considered for the award. Graduate students, faculty research mentors, and external co-authors will not be eligible.

Each article will be evaluated and judged according to the following scholarly criteria:

  • originality, significance, and relevance of research
  • research design, methods, and bridging of questions, data, and results
  • quality of the analysis and supporting evidence
  • significance of results, their broader implications, and intellectual merit
  • format, style, prose, clarity, and accessibility

Articles will be evaluated two semesters after publication and awardees will be notified via email.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. We will notify each author two semesters after publication.

  • Yes. If awarded, OUR will reach out to you via email to discuss disbursement.