NORC Awards
Annual Colorado NORC Awards
The Awards Program was created in 2015 to recognize outstanding individuals in our research community who have a significant impact on the NORC’s research and training environment. We engage our entire research base in identifying technical staff, trainees, and faculty members that we acknowledge with these awards each year.
Every NORC-affiliated administrator, PRA, clinical coordinator, trainee (students and fellows), staff, and faculty members can nominate one individual for each award. Nominations are collated and reviewed by an awards committee consisting of the prior 3 years of awardees.
Nominations for the Colorado NORC awards are gathered annually in October and awardees are presented with their awards at our annual December event.
Congratulations to the 2025 Awardees!
We're so pleased to have received over 65 nominations for this year's awards program. See the winners for 2025 below, along with the limericks written for them by our NORC Director, Paul MacLean, PhD.
2025 Awardees
Outstanding Research Support
Jasmine "Jazz" Hendrix
She’s known as the “Jazz of all trades.”
In waters of research she wades.
Her know-how is best!!
Jazz brings it with zest,
Advancing the science, in spades!!
Outstanding Graduate Student
Asia Ingram
She speaks to the expert and lay,
Of Gal-9, and its role to play.
A cancer-fat link,
They all are in sync!!
But bound is her science to slay!!
Outstanding PhD Fellow
Catherine Cohen, RD, PhD
This fellow, who’s now facult-EE,
Writes grants that are more rhapsod-EE.
A leader of LEAD,
This Cohen, she’s keyed,
Success is her trajector-EE!!
Outstanding MD Fellow
Anthony Wang, MD, PhD
A Nutrition Nexus, top-doc.
This Wang is way smarter than Spock!!
With stem cells he’ll solve,
A fatty resolve,
For all of the kids on the block!!
Outstanding Faulty Member
Irene Schauer, MD, PhD
In research and clinic she’s show-in’,
Our Irene is never plateau-in’!!
Her clamps are serene,
With mito’s, she’s queen!!
Her insights are simply mind-blow-in’!!
Outstanding Mentor
Wei Perng, PhD
When Perng LEADs, they follow in droves,
So not to be stuck in their roves.
She deals out advice,
And charges no price,
But value? We treasure in troves!!
Award Categories
OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SUPPORT
This award recognizes outstanding individuals (PRAs, administrators, and other technical staff) in our research community who have made significant contributions through technical and administrative support to the NORC’s research and educational objectives.
OUTSTANDING MENTOR
This award recognizes faculty members (Instructor – Full Professor) in our research community who have made significant contributions to the NORC’s success through their mentoring and educational activities.
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT
This award recognizes the efforts of graduate students in our research community who make significant contributions to the NORC’s success through their research accomplishments, leadership, and service.
OUTSTANDING PhD INSTRUCTOR/FELLOW
This award recognizes the Ph.D. post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty (recently promoted), who have made significant contributions to the NORC’s success through their research accomplishments, leadership, and service. Fellows who have recently been promoted to a faculty rank of instructor or Assistant Professor are eligible for this award.
OUTSTANDING FACULTY MEMBER
This award recognizes the junior and mid-level faculty members (Instructor, Assistant Professor, or Associate Professor) who make significant contributions to the NORC’s research enterprise through their scholarly achievements, leadership efforts, and service.
OUTSTANDING MD INSTRUCTOR/FELLOW
This award recognizes the M.D. fellows and junior faculty (recently promoted) who have made significant contributions to the NORC’s success through their research accomplishments, leadership, and service. Those who have recently been promoted to faculty are eligible for this award.