USUCGER Awards for Research, Service, and Education

USUCGER STUDENT TRAVEL GRANT

The USUCGER Board will sponsor students (graduate or undergraduate) to attend conferences between January 1, 2026 and April 30, 2026 in support of their accepted work. The awards will be up to $1,000 per student and may be used to fund airfare, hotel, per diem, and/or the conference student registration fee for the awardee.
Applicants must be advised by a USUCGER member and must be presenting research that contributes to the body of knowledge in geotechnical or geoenvironmental engineering to be eligible for the award. The award can be used to support travel to geotechnical and/or geoenvironmental-focused or interdisciplinary conferences.
The Board will evaluate applications during two cycles and anticipates granting at least one travel award per cycle depending on available funding. A summary of the application cycle dates and deadlines is provided below.

More information regarding eligibility and application requirements and submission can be found here: USUCGER Student Travel Grants information

USUCGER Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

This award shall be awarded by the USUCGER Board, typically every three years to an affiliate of a USUCGER-member institution who is a champion of and has demonstrated strong and sustained commitment towards promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the field of Geotechnical Engineering. Eligible nominees can be at any rank/position.

Recipients:

USUCGER Early Career Researcher Award

This award can be awarded by the USUCGER Board, once every two years, to an affiliate of a USUCGER-member institution who has made significant and innovative contributions to research, creative accomplishment, and scholarship in the field of geotechnical engineering. The definition of research is broad and is intended to include all aspects of the creation of new knowledge. Eligible nominees should be tenure-track (or tenured) faculty, and cannot be older than 45 years old, or more than 12 years from their PhD degree year by December 31, 2024 (whichever is less restrictive).

Recipients:

USUCGER Early Career Educator Award

This award can be awarded by the USUCGER Board, once every two years, to an affiliate of a USUCGER-member institution who has provided educational and/or professional development services to the USUCGER community. The definition of education is broad and is intended to include all aspects of educational activity as it relates to and enhances the education and educational abilities of affiliates of USUCGER-member institutions. Eligible nominees should be tenure-track (or tenured) faculty, and cannot be older than 45 years old, or more than 12 years from their PhD degree year by December 31 of the year of the award deadline (whichever is less restrictive).

Recipients:

USUCGER Distinguished Service Award

This award can be awarded by the USUCGER Board, once every two years to an affiliate of a USUCGER-member institution who has given distinguished service to USUCGER. Eligible nominees can be at any rank/position.

Recipients:

PAST AWARDS

USUCGER Distinguished Researcher Award (no longer awarded)

This award shall be awarded by the USUCGER Board and at their discretion, typically every two years, to an affiliate of a USUCGER-member institution who has made outstanding and innovative contributions to research, creative accomplishment, and scholarship in the field of geotechnical engineering. The definition of research is broad, and is intended to include all aspects of the creation of new knowledge. The award may be granted to members at any academic rank.

Recipients:

USUCGER Distinguished Educator Award (No Longer Awarded)

This award shall be awarded by the USUCGER Board, and at their discretion, every third year to an affiliate of a USUCGER-member institution who has provided educational services to the USUCGER community. The definition of education is broad and is intended to include all aspects of educational activity as it relates to and enhances the education and educational abilities of affiliates of USUCGER-member institutions.

Recipients:

USUCGER Research Investment Award (No Longer Awarded)

This award shall be awarded by the USUCGER Board, and at their discretion, every third year. The essential criterion will be significant but broad contributions to geotechnical research, rather than of a specific research accomplishment. The recipient may or may not be an affiliate of a USUCGER-member institution.

Recipients: