Prize Specifications

Principal Guideline

The SIAM Activity Group on Life Sciences Early Career Prize, established in 2016, is awarded to one individual in their early career, in the field of mathematics applied to the life sciences, for distinguished contributions to the field in the three calendar years prior to the award year.

Eligibility

The nominee's work must be a significant research contribution to biomathematics. At least one of the papers containing this work must be published in English in a peer-reviewed journal or conference proceedings bearing a publication date within the three calendar years prior to the year of the award. Moreover, either the recipient must be a graduate student or the paper’s publication date must be no more than three (3) calendar years later than the year in which the author received the PhD or equivalent degree. The overlap in publication eligibility periods is intended to ensure that no candidate will fail to be considered due to the nomination deadline. The committee may consider exceptions to the three-years after PhD rule, for career interruptions or delays occurring, e.g., for child bearing, child rearing, or elder care. The award can be received only once in a lifetime.

Prize Committee

Formation

The recipient will be selected by the SIAG/LS Prize Committee on the Early Career Prize. This committee will consist of a panel of at least five SIAG/LS members. The SIAG Chair, in consultation with the other officers, will form a list of at least five SIAG/LS members to serve on the prize selection committee, will designate the chair, and will submit the list to the SIAM Vice President at Large (SIAM VP) for approval prior to inviting the committee members to serve. The SIAG officers will seek to ensure a diverse composition of the prize committee in research area, gender, geography, employment sector (industry, national laboratories, universities), and under-represented groups.

Tenure

The term of office will be from the date of appointment until the date of the award.

Rules of Operation

The SIAG/LS officers and the SIAM office will solicit nominations for the prize from the general membership of the SIAG/LS and from other members of the scientific community, using SIAM office resources as needed.

The prize committee will follow the ‘best practices’ set out in the SIAM document for Selection Committees. The prize committee will follow the SIAM rules for conflict of interest as posted on the SIAM web site.

If the committee member accepts nomination for the award, the SIAG officers will appoint a replacement upon notification by the committee chair and with the approval of the SIAM VP.

Selection Procedures

Recommendation of the Prize Committee

The Prize committee will notify the SIAM VP of its selection at least six months prior to the award date. The notification must be accompanied by a written justification and a citation not exceeding 25 words that can be used for a certificate and read at award time.

The SIAM VP will accept or reject the committee's recommendation within one month of notification.

If the recommendation is accepted, the award presentation will be made according to the procedure below. If the recommendation is not accepted, the SIAM VP and the Prize Committee will select an acceptable individual at least four months prior to the award date.

The Selection Committee has the authority to choose to abstain from giving the award if there is no acceptable individual. If the award is not given for this reason, a new selection committee will be selected for the next award cycle.[1]  

Notification of Award

The Chair of the Prize Committee will notify the recipient of the award at least four months in advance of the award date. As part of the notification, an invitation will also be extended to the recipient to attend the award ceremony at the biennial SIAM Conference on the Life Sciences to receive the award.

Description of the Award

Award Type

The award will consist of a certificate containing the citation. SIAM will make travel funds available to reimburse the recipient for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the award ceremony.

Award Date

The prize is awarded every other year at the biennial SIAM Conference on the Life Sciences. Award cycles typically follow that of the activity group’s meeting so that the prize may be given at the meeting.

Prize Fund

Since there is no cash award and minimal expenses are associated with the prize, there will be no prize fund.

The Award Presentation

The SIAG/LS Chair and the Chair of the Prize Committee will announce the award at the SIAM Conference on the Life Sciences and present the award to the recipient. An announcement of the award will appear in SIAM News, on the SIAG website, and in the SIAG Newsletter.

^[1] An award decision will also be postponed to the next cycle if the number of nominations does not meet the required number to forward to the selection committee. See SIAM Prize Policy for more information.