The Michael K. O'Rourke Best Publication Award is a prestigious award that recognises outstanding achievement in the publication of a postgraduate researcher’s research.
The Micheal K. O'Rourke Award 2026 is now open for nominations until Sunday 19 April 2026. You can find more information below and submit your nomination via this form.
What are the criteria for the 2026 award?
Who can make a nomination?
- Nominations can be made by a PGR’s lead or co-supervisor.
What are the criteria for the award?
- The PGR must be the major contributor to the publication.
- The paper must have been accepted for publication to be eligible for nomination. However, it does not need to have been published at the time of nomination. In this case, supervisors should mark it as being ‘in press’ on the nomination form.
- The date of submission (online, in print or in press) must be while the PGR is a registered PGR of the University and before the PGRs final examination.
The nominations will be judged based on:
- The significance of the PGR’s contribution to the paper.
- Where similar levels of PGR contribution exist, the next criteria should be the extent of original research contribution of the paper. The extent of PGR contribution and the originality of the research should be made clear in the supervisor’s statement of support.
- Published software and software routines will be considered for the award.
- The forms will be judged by College panels before being forwarded to the University Doctoral School, where a University-level judging panel will agree one winner from each College. Nominees will be invited to the University Doctoral School Awards Ceremony, taking place during the Postgraduate Research Festival in June, where the winners will be announced and presented with their certificates.
The Michael K. O'Rourke Best Publication Award 2025 Award winners
If you have any questions about the process, please email doctoralschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk.