Student Awards

Bacaner Research Awards

The Dr. Marvin and Hadassah Bacaner Research Awards recognize exceptional research achievement by graduate students in the basic sciences as well as graduate students or faculty in cardiology. Nominations may be made by a student’s graduate advisor or by a faculty member’s colleagues.  (Click on the Bacaner award webpage link for nomination details.)

Excellence in Geriatric Scholarship Awards

Two Awards for Excellence in Geriatric Scholarship are presented each year by the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Any University of Minnesota medical student or resident may submit a paper for consideration. (Click on the award webpage link for submission information.)

Gault Honorary Scholarship

The N. L. Gault, M.D. Honorary Scholarship is offered to medical students who intend to specialize in internal or family medicine. Established by the late Royal C. Gray, M.D., University of Minnesota Medical School Class of 1925, the scholarship honors former dean N. L. Gault. It alternates annually between internal medicine and family medicine. For further information, please call 612-625-5976 or 612-626-0619. This scholarship is not open for individual nominations.  In recognition of their achievements, the award recipient is invited to attend the Dean's Tribute to Excellence in Education on April 29, 2026.

Graduating Medical Student Research Awards

The Graduating Medical Student Research Awards recognize meritorious research by graduating medical students who have or are pursuing any other advanced degree. Applications consist of a research paper, a letter of application, and one or more faculty letters of support.  (Click on the Graduation Medical Student Research award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Horns Memorial Award

The Richard C. Horns Memorial Award recognizes an undergraduate medical student for the development of outstanding clinical skills. Nominations are made by the Medical School Education Dean and not open for individual nominations. In recognition of their achievements, the award recipient receives $2500 and is invited to attend the Dean's Tribute to Excellence in Education on April 29, 2026.

Kaplan Award

Six J. Jacob Kaplan awards will be presented in 2026 to recognize outstanding research by undergraduate or graduate medical students, one in each of the following areas: cardiology, immunology in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and gastroenterology.  (Click on the Kaplan award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Lifson/Johnson Memorial Award

This award recognizes two Physiology students -  PhD (preferred), graduate, or undergraduate - who have demonstrated excellence in research in the area of physiological transport systems. Selection is made by the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and not open for individual nominations. In recognition of their achievements, the award recipients receive $2000 and are invited to attend the Dean's Tribute to Excellence in Education on April 29, 2026.

Livermore Memorial Award

The J. Thomas Livermore Memorial Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research in hematology. (Click on the Livermore award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Lunden Award

The Jan Lunden Award honors outstanding research by a graduate or medical student in the field of molecular hepatology. (Click on the Lunden award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Medical Student Achievement Awards

The Medical Student Achievement Awards recognize leadership, community service, academic achievement, and research by fourth-year medical students. Nominations are accepted from medical students, faculty, student organizations, or other persons associated with medical students. (Click on the Medical Student Achievement award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Metro-Mt. Sinai Outstanding Medical Student Award

The Metro-Mt. Sinai Outstanding Medical Student Award is presented annually to one second-year and one fourth-year medical student who demonstrate the potential to become outstanding physicians. These awards are not open for individual nominations, but are selected by their peers from a shortlist of candidates with the highest clinical/academic evaluations.   Each student is awarded $2500 and is invited to attend the Dean's Tribute to Excellence in Education on April 29, 2026, in recognition of their achievement.

Milne-Brandenburg Awards

The Beatrice Z. Milne and Theodore Brandenburg Awards recognize outstanding research by graduate students in the basic sciences. The Biomedical Sciences PhD Graduate Programs Council coordinates the selection process.  (Click on the Milne-Brandenburg award webpage link to see award eligibility and application process.)

Roth-Steer Award for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease

The Roth-Steer Award for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease is presented for outstanding research related to Alzheimer’s disease by a graduate, medical, or post-doctoral student.  (Click on the Roth-Steer award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Roza Steer Breast Cancer Research Award

The Roza Steer Breast Cancer Research Award is presented for outstanding research by a graduate student or medical student in the field of breast cancer.  (Click on the Roza Steer Breast Cancer Research award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Rubin Medical Memorial Award

The Dr. James E. Rubin Medical Memorial Award is presented to a senior medical student at the University of Minnesota who demonstrates excellence in diagnostic skill, compassion, and a high degree of ethical standards. Recipient is selected by the Medical School Education Dean and is not open for nominations.  (Click on the Rubin Medical Memorial award webpage link for award criteria.)

Schmit-Steer Award

The Schmit-Steer Award which recognizes outstanding basic scientific research in biochemistry by a PhD candidate. (Click on the Schmit-Steer award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Segal Award in Psychiatry

The Gloria Segal Award in Psychiatry selects two senior medical students, one from the University of Minnesota Medical School and one from the Mayo Medical School, in recognition of their outstanding academic and professional performance during the third year clinical psychiatry rotation. This award is not open for individual nominations.  In recognition of their achievements, award recipients receive $500 and are invited to attend the Dean's Tribute to Excellence in Education on April 29, 2026.

Steer Family Award in Diabetes Research

The Steer Family Award in Diabetes Research is presented for outstanding research by a graduate or medical student in the field of diabetes mellitus.  (Click on the Steer Family award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Steer-Johnson Award

Steer-Johnson Awards are presented annually for outstanding research by undergraduate or graduate students in the field of general physiology, pulmonary physiology, or cardiovascular physiology in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology. A committee within the department selects the recipient - it is not open for individual nominations. In recognition of their achievements, award recipients will be invited to attend the Dean's Tribute to Excellence in Education on April 29, 2026.

Steer-Pruitt Award

The Steer-Pruitt Award which recognizes outstanding basic cardiovascular research by a PhD candidate. (Click on the Steer-Pruitt award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)

Therese Zink Student Narrative Award

This award is presented to one graduating medical student whose narrative, written as part of the Significant Event Reflection in the Family Medicine Clerkship, is deemed the most well-written and ready for publication. Recipients will be chosen by the Clerkship. In selecting an awardee, preference will be given to those narratives which have been accepted for publication by a journal. (Click on the Zink award webpage link for more information on the application process.)

Veneziale-Steer Award

The Veneziale-Steer Award recognizes outstanding research by a graduate or medical student in the field of cellular growth regulation. (Click on the Veneziale-Steer award webpage link for nomination details and nomination form.)