Awards

Tenure-Track/Tenured Outstanding Teaching Award

Each year the Department of Molecular Biosciences recognizes faculty for their outstanding contributions to learning in the classroom with the Outstanding Teaching Award. Exemplary faculty should consistently demonstrate outstanding teaching, which includes all activities in which faculty members engage to facilitate learning of their students both in and out of the classroom.

For departmental awardees to be nominated by the department for the CNS Teaching Excellence Award, they may not have received the CNS award in the last seven years. 

The award committee will look for evidence that the nominee:

• Stimulates intellectual curiosity
• Shows evidence of being current in the field
• Demonstrates commitment to student learning both in and out of the classroom 
• Positively impacts career development
• Reflects on past teaching experience to improve current practice and utilizes best practices in pedagogy
• Shows consistency in teaching excellence (have taught for at least three semesters)

Two awards will be presented: one for Assistant Professors and one for Associate/Full Professors. Nominations should be received by February 21, 2025.   Self-nominations are welcome. The MBS Outstanding Teaching Award(s) will be announced at the MBS Annual Retreat on March 7, 2025.

Please contact mbs_ea@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.

PTF Teaching Excellence Awards 

Each year the Department of Molecular Biosciences recognizes professional track faculty for their excellent contributions to learning in the classroom with the Teaching Excellence Award.    

The award committee will look for evidence that the nominee consistently demonstrates:

• Outstanding teaching 
• Outstanding student mentoring 
• Curricular innovation 
• Excellent efforts both inside and outside the classroom 
• CES scores and student comments from recent terms will also be considered but, do not need to be provided 

One award will be presented.  Eligible faculty include all faculty of instructions or practice at the full, associate or assistant levels.  Nominations should be received by February 21, 2025.  Self-nominations are encouraged.  The PTF Teaching Excellence Award will be announced at the MBS Annual Retreat on March 7, 2025.

L. Joe Berry Memorial Scholarship in Microbiology 

The L. Joe Berry Memorial Fund was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on February 12, 1988, for the benefit of the College of Natural Sciences. The endowment honors Dr. Levette Joe Berry of Austin, Texas, a 1939 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences.  Earnings from the endowment will be used to provide scholarships for students in the Department of Microbiology as well as to promote excellence in science in Dr. Berry's name.