Trendsetter Awards 2026 Instructions

Recognizing the importance of highlighting faculty who are highly effective in their research and creative activity output, the Office of Research developed the Trendsetter Award to identify noteworthy scholars in three categories, with the goal of recognizing emerging, mid-career, and late career or “eminent” faculty. All faculty (including clinical) with at least two years of service at ECU, regardless of tenure status, department, school and/or college and field of study are welcome to submit their nomination application, consisting of a current CV and Chair letter. Deadline Feb. 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM, through this online form.

Award categoryEarly Achievement in Research or Creative ActivityMid-career Achievement in Research or Creative ActivityEminent Achievement in Research or Creative Activity
Target groupTenure track or fixed term faculty with six or fewer years of service and at least two years of appointment at ECUTenured faculty or fixed term faculty with 5-9 years of service and at least three years of appointment at ECUTenured faculty or fixed term faculty with 10 or more years of service and at least five years of appointment at ECU
Criteria for Selection (not all need to be checked to be considered)
  • Publication or juried exhibition in a noteworthy scholarly outlet
  • Interdisciplinary work
  • At least one extramurally funded project
  • Patent
  • National and/ or international recognition in the academic community
  • Partnership with industry or community
  • Local news/media stories that highlight scholarship/creative activity
  • Potential for future advancement and recognition in research and creative activities
  • All of category 1
  • Quality of scholarly/creative products/patents
  • Number of extramurally funded projects
  • Significant national and/ or international recognition in the academic community
  • Partnership with industry or community with grant funding
  • State-level news/media stories that highlight scholarship/creative activity
  • Potential for future advancement and recognition in research and creative activities
  • All of categories 1-2
  • Outstanding national and/ or international recognition in the academic community
  • Multiple scholarly products/patents emerging from partnerships
  • Leadership in disciplinary association trade groups
  • National or International News/media stories that highlight research/creative activity
Back to top