Annual Meeting





SSR Virtual 

Trainee Merit Awards

These merit awards recognize the best research presented each year at the SSR Annual Meeting, and the competitions are open to all qualifying SSR Trainee Members, regardless of country of origin. The cash prizes associated with the USDA–NIFA–AFRI and Lalor Awards are intended to defray the cost of traveling to and presenting at the Annual Meeting.

The SSR Awards Committee will review and score abstracts submitted for Trainee Merit Award consideration that meet the criteria for the awards listed below. Finalists/Awardees will be notified of award status approximately 3–5 weeks after the Program Committee has completed the abstract review and program assignments. All finalist/winning abstracts are noted in the Program, and each presenter receives a ribbon identifying him/her as an award finalist/winner and is recognized at a special ceremony at the Annual Meeting.

All abstracts must be submitted online by February 15, 2019 (12:00 PM EST).

Trainee Research Awards

Qualifications

The Trainee Research Awards recognize the best papers presented at the Annual Meeting by predoctoral or postdoctoral trainees.

Trainees named as Finalists for a Trainee Research Award Competition (either Poster or Oral) may also be selected to receive either a Lalor Foundation Merit Award or a USDA–NIFA–AFRI Merit Award.

  1. The candidate must be an SSR Trainee whose membership dues are paid and mentor's signature is on file in the SSR Business Office by the abstract submission deadline (February 15, 2019).
  2. The candidate must not have previously won an SSR Trainee Research Award (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place; Oral [Platform] or Poster).
  3. The candidate may be a predoctoral trainee, a postdoctoral trainee who has completed a doctoral degree within four years prior to the submission deadline, or a physician-scientist who is currently in a mentored research training program; the candidate must be submitting an abstract for presentation at the Annual Meeting.
  4. SSR Trainee Research Awards for Posters will include separate categories for predoctoral trainees and postdoctoral trainees (1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category).
  5. The abstract must be based on work performed primarily by the candidate (presenter) for the award.
  6. While submitting the abstract online, the candidate must have checked “Yes” in the “SSR Trainee Merit Awards” section and then check the box next to SSR Trainee Research Award.
  7. To be considered for the SSR Trainee Research Award—Oral Competition, the candidate must have checked “Oral Talk or Poster” under Presentation Type.

Award Criteria

Abstracts
The Awards Committee evaluates all abstracts entered in competition for Trainee Research Awards according to the following criteria:

  1. Clarity of the abstract and title
  2. Innovation (technical, conceptual)
  3. Scientific rigor in study design and analysis
  4. Overall impact of the work.

The Committee selects six finalists to compete for best oral presentation and six finalists each per category (predoctoral/ postdoctoral) for best poster presentation. Finalists are notified by e-mail.

Presentations
The finalists’ abstracts are scheduled for presentation randomly at the meeting without consideration of status in the competition. Oral finalists will present their talks during the Trainee Research Award - Platform Competition on Thursday, July 18th 1:30-3:00PM.

Poster finalists may also be chosen for Flash Talks and will present their posters during one of the regular poster sessions. Poster finalists will be identified during the poster sessions with a blue ribbon. The criteria for final evaluation of the presentations are:

  1. merit of the study,
  2. presentation format,
  3. delivery,
  4. visual aids, and
  5. response to questions during discussion.

The Awards Committee determines the First- (USD $500), Second- (USD $300), and Third- (USD $200) place winners; the recipients are recognized at a special ceremony at the Annual Meeting.

Apply
While submitting the abstract online, indicate “Yes” in the SSR Trainee Merit Awards Section and then select the “SSR Trainee Research Award” to be considered for this award.

Recipients
For a list of all first-, second-, and third-place winners of these awards, please see Research Platform Awardees and Research Poster Awardees.

USDA–NIFA–AFRI Merit Awards

Qualifications

The USDA–NIFA–AFRI Merit Awards recognize research that most benefits or enhances scientific understanding of reproduction in agriculturally important species. Funding is provided by USDA–NIFA–AFRI.

Abstracts eligible for a USDA–NIFA–AFRI Merit Award may also be considered for an SSR Trainee Research Award..

  1. The candidate must be an SSR Trainee whose membership dues are paid and mentor's signature is on file in the SSR Business Office by the abstract submission deadline (February 15 2019).
  2. The candidate must be a predoctoral trainee, a postdoctoral trainee who has completed a doctoral degree within four years prior to the submission deadline, or a physician-scientist who is currently in a mentored research training program; the candidate must be submitting an abstract for presentation at the 2019 Annual Meeting.
  3. The abstract must be based on work performed primarily by the candidate for the award (presenter) and must relate to the goal of benefiting or enhancing our understanding of reproduction in agriculturally important species.
  4. The abstract must be submitted online by February 15 2019 (12:00 PM EST).
  5. While submitting the abstract online, the candidate must have checked “Yes” in the “SSR Trainee Merit Award” section and then checked the box for USDA-NIFA-AFRI Trainee Merit Award.

Award Criteria

The SSR Awards Committee rates the abstracts according to how well each meets the following criteria:

  1. relevance of research to the goal of enhancing understanding of reproduction in agriculturally important species,
  2. scientific merit,
  3. interpretation and impact of the results, and
  4. clarity of the abstract.

Approximately ten presenters are selected to receive a USDA–NIFA–AFRI Merit Award of USD $500 to attend and present at the SSR Annual Meeting. Awardees are notified by e-mail.

Apply

While submitting the abstract online, indicate “Yes” in the SSR Trainee Merit Awards Section and then select the “USDA-NIFA-AFRI Trainee Merit Awards” to be considered for this award.

Lalor Foundation Merit Awards

Qualifications

The Lalor Foundation Merit Award recognizes the best-researched and most well-presented abstracts. These awards are supported by a grant from The Lalor Foundation.

Abstracts eligible for a Lalor Foundation Merit Award may also be considered for an SSR Trainee Research Award.​

  1. The candidate must be an SSR Trainee whose membership dues are paid and mentor's signature is on file in the SSR Business Office by the abstract submission deadline (February 15 2019).
  2. The candidate must be a predoctoral trainee, a postdoctoral trainee who has completed a doctoral degree within four years prior to the submission deadline, or a physician-scientist who is currently in a mentored research training program; the candidate must be submitting an abstract for presentation at the 2019 Annual Meeting.
  3. The abstract must be based on work performed primarily by the candidate for the award (presenter).
  4. The abstract must be submitted online by February 15 2019 (12:00 PM EST).
  5. While submitting the abstract online, the candidate must have checked “Yes” in the “SSR Trainee Merit Award” section and then checked the box for Lalor Foundation Trainee Merit Award.

Award Criteria

The Awards Committee rates the abstracts according to the following criteria:

  1. scientific merit,
  2. interpretation and impact of the results, and
  3. clarity of the abstract.

Approximately 20 presenters are selected to receive a Lalor Foundation Merit Award to attend and present at the SSR Annual Meeting. Awardees are notified by e-mail.

Apply

While submitting the abstract online, indicate “Yes” in the SSR Trainee Merit Awards Section and then select the “Lalor Foundation Trainee Merit Award” to be considered for this award.

Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation Merit Awards (Anticipated)

Qualifications

The Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation Merit Award, historically supported by the Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation, recognizes the two best abstracts presented at the SSR Annual Meeting by a predoctoral or postdoctoral trainee whose country of origin is Korea and who is in a mentored program in Korea. SSR anticipates support from the Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation; the awards are contingent on this support.

Trainees named to receive an Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation Merit Award are not eligible for any other Trainee Award.

  1. The candidate must be a native Korean who is in a mentored research training program in Korea.
  2. The candidate must be a predoctoral trainee, a postdoctoral trainee who has completed a doctoral degree within four years prior to the submission deadline, or a physician-scientist who is currently in a mentored research training program.
  3. The candidate must be submitting an abstract for presentation at the 2019 Annual Meeting and be able to attend and present his/her work at the meeting.
  4. The abstract must be based on work performed primarily by the candidate (presenter) for the award.
  5. The abstract must be submitted online by February 15 2019 (12:00 PM EST).
  6. While submitting the abstract online, the candidate must have checked “Yes” in the “SSR Trainee Merit Award” section and then checked the box for Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation Merit Award.
  7. The candidate must be an SSR Trainee whose membership dues are paid and mentor's signature is on file in the SSR Business Office by the abstract submission deadline (February 15 2019).

Award Criteria

The SSR Awards Committee rates the abstracts according to how well each meets the objectives and the following criteria:

  1. scientific merit,
  2. interpretation and impact of the results, and
  3. clarity of the abstract.

Pending confirmation of support, presenters selected to receive an Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation Merit Award of USD $1,000 to attend and present at the SSR Annual Meeting will be notified by e-mail. The cash award and certificate will be presented during the Annual Meeting.

Apply

While submitting the abstract online, indicate “Yes” in the SSR Trainee Merit Awards Section and then select the “Asia-Pacific Biomedical Research Foundation Merit Award” to be considered for this award.