The Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) positions Ohio State to expand curiosity-driven research and creative expression activities, further develop our research community, including students, faculty and staff to be leaders both today and in the future, and grow the innovation ecosystem to address societal challenges.
ERIK sponsors several awards annually recognizing faculty for outstanding work in scholarship, research, innovation and entrepreneurial activity:
Pierre Agostini Prize
The Pierre Agostini Prize was established to memorialize Professor Agostini’s research achievements that led to him winning the Nobel Prize in Physics (2023) and to highlight Ohio State’s commitment to the promotion of innovative and consequential research and creative expression. The Agostini Prize, awarded to one faculty member annually, is the university’s most prestigious award for scholarly and artistic achievement. It recognizes ground-breaking work that decisively contributes to the progress of one or more fields or changes that field’s direction. The achievement recognized by the Agostini Prize may be of foundational nature for the field(s) of research from which it emerged or stand out for its exceptional contributions in addressing urgent societal issues. The work may have developed in segments over an extended period, or it may be a singular, revolutionary contribution.
The Agostini Prize includes an award of $50,000, split evenly into a cash award and a research budget.
NEW THIS YEAR: Notice of Intent due to erik@osu.edu: Dec. 4, 2026 | Deadline: Jan. 15, 2027
Learn more about the Agostini prize
Distinguished Scholar Awards
The Distinguished Scholar Awards is among the highest annual honors The Ohio State University bestows on a faculty member in recognition of outstanding scholarly activity, research or creative works.
In recognition of the different phases of a faculty member’s academic career, Ohio State presents two separate awards:
- Distinguished Scholar Award — honors six faculty members who demonstrate scholarly activity, research or creative works which represent exceptional achievements in their fields and who have brought distinction to themselves and Ohio State. Recipients of this award receive a $20,000 research grant and a $3,000 honorarium to pursue their scholarly activity.
- Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award — honors three assistant professors and early associate professors who show promise of making significant contributions to Ohio State and their field for years to come. Recipients of this award receive a $20,000 research grant and $2,000 honorarium to pursue their scholarly activity.
Opens: Nov. 23, 2026 | Deadline: Nov. 23, 2026
Learn more about the Distinguished Scholar Award
Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award
The Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award annually recognizes three faculty members with outstanding scholarly activities who show promise of making significant contributions to Ohio State and their field for years to come. Paralleling the Distinguished Scholar Award, this award specifically targets assistant professors and early associate professors and provides a new tool to honor our outstanding early career faculty. Recipients of the Early Career DSA award receive a $20,000 research grant and a $2,000 honorarium to pursue their scholarly activity.
The award seeks individuals who are transforming their fields through:
- external recognition, including but not limited to recognitions such as NSFCAREER, PECASE, disciplinary young scholar awards
- book awards, performance/theatrical/art installations
- letters from senior leaders in the field must indicate reputation and trajectory of the candidate
- publications, citations, or transformative papers that, while early, are making animpact (letters are requested to identify examples)
- mentorship of students/postdocs is not required but should be noted if applicable
Deadline: Nov. 23, 2026
Learn more about the Early Distinguished Scholar Award
Innovators of the Year
The Innovator of the Year and Early Career Innovator of the Year awards recognize Ohio State researchers who are actively working to promote commercialization of university intellectual property, through invention disclosures filed, patents applied for and/or received, technologies licensed or spin-off companies formed. The creation of separate categories for more established researchers and for early career researchers allows cultivation of an entrepreneurial spirit among all of our investigators.
Deadline: Nov. 23, 2025