The University Award for Distinguished Research
| 2008 - 2009 | Eric W. Van Stryland | College of Optics and Photonics |
| 2007 - 2008 | Demetri Christodoulides | College of Optics and Photonics |
| 2006 - 2007 | Mubarak Shah | College of Engineering and Computer Science |
| 2005 - 2006 | Shin-Tson Wu | College of Optics and Photonics |
| 2004 - 2005 | Martin Richardson | College of Optics and Photonics |
| 2003 - 2004 | Don Malocha | College of Engineering and Computer Science |
| 2002 - 2003 | Mohamed A. Abdel-Aty | College of Engineering and Computer Science |
| 2001 - 2002 | Eduardo Salas | College of Arts and Sciences |
| 2000 - 2001 | Kristin G. Congdon | College of Arts and Sciences |
| 1999 - 2000 | William T. Silfvast, School of Optics, CREOL | Institutes and Centers |
| 1998 - 1999 | Haitham M. Al-Deek | College of Engineering and Computer Science |
| Peter J. Delfyett, Jr. CREOL, School of Optics | Institutes and Centers | |
| 1997 - 1998 | George Stegeman | College of Arts and Sciences |
| 1996 - 1997 | Lokenath Debnath | College of Arts and Sciences |
| Moshe Pelli | College of Arts and Sciences | |
| 1995 - 1996 | James S. Taylor | College of Engineering |
| 1994 - 1995 | D. Howard Miles | College of Arts and Sciences |