Prize Specifications

Principal Guideline

The SIAM Activity Group on Linear Algebra Early Career Prize, established in 2017, is awarded to one outstanding early career researcher in the field of applicable linear algebra, for distinguished contributions to the field within six (6) years of receiving the PhD or equivalent degree as of January 1 of the year of the award.

Eligibility

The candidate's work must be a significant research contribution to the field of applicable linear algebra. The award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, influential, and potentially long-lasting contributions to applicable linear algebra within six (6) years of receiving the PhD or equivalent degree as of January 1 of the year of the award. The contribution(s) for which the award is made must be publicly available and may belong to any aspect of applicable linear algebra in its broadest sense. The committee may consider exceptions to the six-year rule, for career interruptions or delays occurring, e.g., for child bearing, child rearing, or elder care. Graduate students are not eligible for this award. The award can be received only once in a lifetime.

Prize Committee

Formation

The recipient will be selected by the SIAG/LA Prize Committee on the Early Career Prize. This committee will consist of a panel of at least five SIAG/LA members. The SIAG Chair, in consultation with the other officers, will form a list of at least five SIAG/LA 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/LA officers and the SIAM office will solicit nominations for the prize from the general membership of the SIAG/LA 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 a 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 not an acceptable individual, i.e. not enough nominations. If the award is not given, 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 SIAM Conference on Applied Linear Algebra to receive the award. The recipient is expected to give a brief talk at this conference about the work for which the award is given.

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 third year at the triennial SIAM Conference on Applied Linear Algebra.

Prize Fund

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

Award Presentation

The SIAG/LA Chair and the Chair of the Prize Committee will announce the award at the SIAM Conference on Applied Linear Algebra 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.