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Call for 2012 Nominations for ASPB Awards

Deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 1, 2012
To be presented at Plant Biology 2012

According to ASPB's bylaws, "The Society shall recognize meritorious research and service in plant biology by the presentation of awards to deserving individuals. Selection of individuals for awards shall be made by selection from the nominations submitted by the membership."

Member participation in this honors process is essential if the awards are to represent the judgment of the practitioners of the science.

It is important to have a substantial response to a request for nominations. The larger the group of nominees, the greater the value and meaningfulness of the ASPB awards program. Do not delay. By starting the nominating process now, meeting the deadline should pose no problem.

Please Note: PLEASE NOTE: The nomination process has been streamlined. Letters of recommendation are no longer required for any awards except the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship.  All that is required to make a nomination for all other awards is a 1-2 page letter of nomination and a detailed CV of the nominee.  However, supporting letters are still allowed for the other awards and if provided must be submitted as part of the single pdf nomination file.  In addition, nomination committees may go back to the nominator and ask for more information if they think it necessary.

• ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship
  ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship
  This award, made possible by the generosity of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, recognizes and encourages innovative graduate research and innovation in areas of plant biology that relate to important commodity crops. One $22,000 fellowship will be given annually from 2010 through 2013, with an additional $1,000 awarded for the recipient to attend the ASPB annual meeting in the year of their award. Each nominee must attend a U.S.-accredited college or university and must demonstrate interest in the study of plant biology or a related discipline. Each nominee must be a Ph.D. candidate—i.e., have successfully passed their preliminary examinations, must demonstrate an excellent academic record, and must be a member of ASPB. An individual may receive this prize only once. ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship Committee
• Charles Albert Shull Award
  Charles Albert Shull Award
  This award was initiated in 1971 by the Society to honor Dr. Charles A. Shull, whose personal interest and support were largely responsible for the founding and early growth of the Society. It is a monetary award made annually for outstanding investigations in the field of plant biology by a member who is generally under forty-five years of age on January 1st of the year of presentation, or is fewer than ten years from the granting of the doctoral degree. Breaks in careers will be considered when addressing the age limit of this award. The recipient is invited to address the Society at the annual meeting the following year.
• Charles F. Kettering Award
  Charles F. Kettering Award
  This award was established by an endowment from the Kettering Foundation in 1962 to recognize excellence in the field of photosynthesis. It is a monetary award to be given to an individual, whether or not a member of the Society, in even-numbered years..
• Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award
  Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award
  This is the oldest award, established in l925 at the first annual meeting of the Society through the generosity of Dr. Charles A. Shull. It honors Dr. Charles Reid Barnes, the first professor of plant physiology at the University of Chicago. It is an annual award for meritorious work in plant biology; it provides a life membership in the Society to an individual who is at least sixty years old. Membership is a requirement for the award, and, if appropriate, every fifth award should be made to an outstanding plant biologist from outside the United States.
• Corresponding Membership
  Corresponding Membership Award
  This honor, initially given in 1932, provides life membership and Society publications to distinguished plant biologists from outside the United States in recognition of their contributions to ASPB and to plant biology. The honor is conferred by election on the annual ballot. The committee selects no more than three (3) candidates, and these are placed on the ballot for approval of corresponding membership by majority vote. The president notifies successful candidates of their election. Election of a corresponding member is to be considered each year, and held if warranted, provided the election will not increase the number of corresponding members beyond two (2) percent of the dues-paying membership. Membership is a requirement for this award.
• Dennis R. Hoagland Award
  Dennis R. Hoagland Award
  This monetary award, established by the Society in 1985 with funds provided by the Monsanto Agricultural Products Company, honors Dr. Dennis R. Hoagland, recipient of the first Hales award, for his outstanding contributions and leadership in plant mineral nutrition. The award, to be made not more frequently than triennially to an individual, whether or not a member of the Society, is for outstanding plant research in support of agriculture.
• Early Career Award
  Early Career
  The Early Career Award was instituted by the Society's executive committee in 2005 to recognize outstanding research by scientists at the beginnings of their careers. This award is a monetary award made annually for exceptionally creative, independent contributions by an individual, whether or not a member of the Society, who is generally not more than five years post-Ph.D. on January 1st of the year of the presentation. Breaks in careers will be considered when addressing the time limit of this award.
• Excellence in Education Award
  Excellence in Education Award
  This award, initiated in 1988, recognizes outstanding teaching, mentoring, and/or educational outreach in plant biology by an individual, whether or not a member of the Society. It is a monetary award to be made annually in recognition of excellence in teaching, leadership in curricular development, or authorship of effective teaching materials in the science of plant biology.
• Fellow of ASPB Award
  Fellow of ASPB Award
  Established in 2007, the Fellow of ASPB Award may be granted to current members in recognition of direct service to the Society and distinguished and long-term contributions to plant biology. Areas of contribution may include education, mentoring, outreach, research and professional and public service. Examples of relevant Society service include, but are not restricted to, service on or on behalf of ASPB committees, service on editorial boards of ASPB journals, and active involvement in ASPB meetings. Current members of ASPB who have contributed to and been members of the Society for at least 10 years cumulative prior to their nomination are eligible for nomination. Recipients of the Fellow of ASPB honor, which may be granted to no more than 0.2% of the current membership each year, receive a certificate of distinction and a lapel pin.
• Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence in Plant Biology Research
  Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence in Plant Biology Research
  The Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence in Plant Biology Research was instituted by the Society's executive committee in 2006 to honor Dr. Bogorad's many contributions to plant biology, including his influential efforts to bring the techniques of molecular biology to bear on problems in plant biology; his groundbreaking research on chloroplast genetics, bio-genesis, structure, and function; and his inspired teaching and mentoring. The ASPB Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence in Plant Biology is a monetary award made biennially to a plant scientist, whether or not a member of the Society, whose work both illuminates the present and suggests paths to enlighten the future.
• Robert Rabson Award
  Robert Rabson Award
  The Robert Rabson Award, first given by the Society in 2012, recognizes Bob Rabson's steadfast advocacy of plant biology through creation of funding programs in the Department of Energy for research in basic energy sciences. The award recognizes postdocs and faculty-level early career scientists, whether or not members of the Society, in academic, government and corporate research institutions who have made excellent contributions in the area of bioenergy research. The award, which is made biennially, is a monetary award that also provides a one-year membership in the Society.
• Stephen Hales Prize
  Stephen Hales Prize
  This award honors the Reverend Stephen Hales for his pioneering work in plant biology published in his 1727 book Vegetable Staticks. It is a monetary award established in 1927 for an ASPB member who has served the science of plant biology in some noteworthy manner. The award is made annually. The recipient of the award is invited to address the Society on a subject in plant biology at the next annual meeting.

ASPB Awards Nominating Procedures

Any ASPB member may serve as a nominator and may nominate individuals for more than one award. Making a nomination is a simple two-step procedure. As you prepare the nominating package, remember to:

• State the award for which the person is being nominated.
• Provide your name and e-mail address.
• Provide the nominee's name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.

STEP 1.

Assemble a nomination package that includes the following items:

• 1-2 page letter of nomination in which you state the nominee's qualifications for the award (contributions relevant to the objective of the award and significance of those contributions).
• A detailed curriculum vitae of the nominee that includes education, positions held, previous honors or awards, past service to ASPB and to the profession, and a publications list.
• Support letters, which are optional for all awards except the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship."

STEP 2.

Submit the nomination package by Thursday, March 1, 2012. All nominations must be submitted electronically. Please submit your nomination as a single pdf file.

ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship

The ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship is an investment in our nation's future scientists. The Fellowship encourages leadership skills and career development in students who have an interest in applying the study of plant biology to research topics related to important commodity crops including corn, soybeans, rice, wheat or canola. One $22,000 fellowship will be given annually from 2010 through 2013, with an additional $1,000 awarded for the recipient to attend the ASPB annual meeting in the year of their award.

Nominations for the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship must be prepared by the nominee’s research supervisor. Making a nomination is a simple two-step procedure. As you prepare the nominating package, remember to:

• State the award for which the person is being nominated.
• Provide your name and e-mail address.
• Provide the nominee's name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.

STEP 1.

Assemble a nomination package for the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship; packages must be prepared by the nominee's research supervisor. Nominees must attend a U.S.-accredited college or university, must have an excellent academic record (e.g., have achieved undergraduate and graduate GPAs of 3.5 or greater), must be Ph.D. candidates (i.e., have passed their preliminary examinations), and must be members of ASPB. Nominations packages, which must not exceed a total of 20 pages, must include:

• A letter of nomination from the nominee's research supervisor and two additional letters of recommendation. Each recommendation letter should address the student's competence in plant biology and associated occupational skills, including creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, leadership, and team-building skills.
• Copies of official undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• A brief description (no more than three single-spaced pages including references page), written by the nominee, of his/her research project including a brief statement of its goals, rationale, and justification.
• A short essay (no more than one single-spaced page), written by the nominee, explaining his/her interest in applying the study of plant biology to research topics related to important commodity crops including corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, or canola.
• A brief statement (no more than one single-spaced page), written by the nominee, of his/her long-range career goals and a description of how the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred Graduate Student Fellowship will help the nominee to attain those goals.
• The nominee's curriculum vitae, which should include educational background, relevant employment, memberships and affiliations, awards and honors, and community service.

STEP 2.

Submit the nomination package by Thursday, March 1, 2012. All nominations must be submitted electronically. Please submit your nomination as a single pdf file.

If you have problems with any of the award nominations you can email or mail your nomination package to:

Katie Engen
American Society of Plant Biologists
Education Coordinator
15501 Monona Drive
Rockville, MD 20855
Phone: 301-251-0560 x116
Fax: 301-279-2996

NOTE: All nominations will be kept for three award cycles and nominators will have the option to update them.

Lists of past winners are available at the back of the annual membership directory and on the ASPB web page.