Guidelines for the 2023 ACS BIOT
Young Investigator Award
-- Sponsored by Genentech, a Member of the Roche Group--
Purpose:
The Division of Biochemical Technology Young Investigator Award is intended to recognize a contributor to the field of biochemical technology who is early in their career as an independent researcher and is an active participant in the division programs. The award nominations will be judged according to criteria as set forth in this document. However, the criteria may change for future conferences, as appropriate. The award is sponsored by Genentech, a Member of the Roche Group.
Award:
The award consists of $3000, to cover an honorarium and travel expenses to attend an annual meeting of the Biochemical Technology Division of the American Chemical Society, and a commemorative plaque. The award ceremony takes place at the annual ACS meeting for which BIOT chooses to program and includes a presentation by the recipient on his/her/their research.
Eligibility:
The Division of Biochemical Technology Young Investigator Award is open to all early career researchers, including those from academic, industrial, governmental, and non-profit institutions or organizations. Eligible individuals will be independent researchers within 10 years of
the completion of their most recent training, be it a degree program or a postdoctoral program, as of the nomination deadline. In cases where an individual took time off for dependent care or other life events, ACS BIOT will consider petitions for an extension of up to two years of eligibility. Petitions for an extension of eligibility must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline by email to the ACS BIOT Awards Chair (Brian Pfleger, brian.pfleger@wisc.edu); petition decisions will be made by the BIOT Awards Committee.
It is expected that the award recipient will register, attend the conference, and present an award lecture.
Selection Criteria:
The nominations will be judged on the originality and overall quality of work, significance to the advancement of the field of biotechnology, and other supporting information in the nomination package. The candidate’s contributions should include independent work clearly distinguishable from that conducted as part of their training as a researcher.
In assessing the body of work that is the basis for a nomination, the selection committee will include in its consideration:
a) the extent to which the body of work has the potential to change the state-of-the-art, thinking or practice of relevant aspects of microbial or biochemical technology;
b) the technological quality and impact of any relevant publications, monographs and/or books;
c) the extent of any relevant potential commercial activity via licensed patents, new commercial entities established or expansion of existing commercial activities;
d) the extent of any potential societal impact via the human needs met by the current or eventual application of the body of work; and
e) the extent to which the body of work that is the basis for nomination is distinguishable from that conducted as part of the nominee’s training as a researcher.
The selection committee will also consider:
a) the extent to which the body of work that is the basis for nomination has already been recognized at the national or international level by other award programs or organizations; the YIA will typically be the first major national/international award received by the selected nominee; and
b) the extent to which the nominee has been an engaged member of the BIOT community during the production of the body of work.
Nomination Procedure:
All nominations are conducted by self-nomination. The nomination procedure includes:
a) Establishment of an account within the online submission portal (located at acsbiot.submit.org) with the following information: name, current institution/organization, current position title, current contact information, current membership status in the American Chemical Society, most recent technical training competed (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, postdoctoral, Other), date most recent technical training was completed (if bachelor’s or master’s, degree month/year; if doctoral, defense month/year; if postdoctoral, position end month/year) and proposed award citation that accurately reflects the specific accomplishments to be recognized (25 words or less).
b) A proposed title for presentation at the ACS National Meeting.
c) A letter addressed to the selection committee which provides a complete description of the nominee’s research contribution for which the Award is intended along with commentary facilitating consideration of the selection criteria by the selection committee; this letter must be 2 pages or less in length. This letter is submitted by the nominee to the online submission portal.
d) A curriculum vitae or resume; this must be 25 pages in length or less. The CV or resume is submitted by the nominee to the online submission portal.
e) Up to three letters of support from persons knowledgeable about the research contribution under consideration; the letters are most useful when they address the selection criteria. each letter must be 2 pages or less in length. Letter writers should write on behalf of only one YIA nominee each award cycle. The nominee will submit the names, titles, institutions (if any), phone numbers and email addresses of the letter writers to the online submission portal; the portal will send a formal request for a letter of support via email to the letter writers who will, in turn, submit their completed letters on their own to the online submission portal. The nominee will be able to check the submission status (and status only) of each letter of support. Letter writers will be verified.
Selection:
The awardee is selected from among the nominees by a committee of prior awardees and senior BIOT members convened by the BIOT Division Awards Chair.
A Note Regarding the Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry Award
Each ACS Division can nominate up to two young investigators for consideration for the Kavli Emerging Leader lectureship at a given national meeting. BIOT will consider eligible YIA nominees as part of the Kavli nominee pool. Note that the eligibility requirements for the Kavli Emerging Leader Award – under 40 years old and less than 10 years past receipt of PhD as of the date of the lecture – are different from those for the YIA Award; some YIA nominees may not be eligible for the consideration for the Kavli Award.