Trainee Research Awards
The Trainee Research Awards recognize the best papers presented at the Annual Meeting by a predoctoral or postdoctoral trainee. The Society anticipates receipt of a grant from EMD Serono Research Institute to fund the award.
Previous winners of the Trainee Research Award from any year or finalists from the previous year may not compete for this award. The work described in the abstract must be based on work performed primarily by the presenter. The competitions are open to eligible trainees regardless of country of origin. For a list of qualifications for this award, please see the Qualifications page.
The Awards Committee will evaluate all abstracts entered in competition for the Trainee Research Awards according to the following criteria: scientific merit, interpretation and impact of results, and clarity of the abstract. The Committee will select up to twenty-four semifinalists in each presentation category, each of whom will be notified of their status. The Awards Committee will judge the semifinalists’ abstracts and select 10 finalists in each presentation category for the competitions. The criteria for final evaluation are:
- merit of the study,
- presentation format,
- delivery,
- visual aids, and
- response to questions during discussion.
These abstracts will be scheduled for presentation at the meeting without consideration of status in the competition and will be identified in the program book as finalists. The Awards Committee will then evaluate the presentations of each finalist and select First, Second, and Third prizes to be awarded to the three best poster and three best platform presentations. The Trainee Research Awards will be presented at a special ceremony at the end of the Annual Meeting. Questions concerning this award may be directed to Dr. Robert A. Cushman, Chair, SSR Awards Committee: bob.cushman@ars.usda.gov.
Trainees named as Finalists for a Trainee Research Award (either Poster or Platform) may also be selected to receive either a Lalor Foundation Merit Award or a USDA CSREES NRI Merit Award.