SIAM Activity Group on Optimization Early Career Prize

Established in 2018, the prize is awarded every three years to an individual in their early career for outstanding, influential, and potentially long-lasting contributions to the field of optimization.

Prize Description

The SIAM Activity Group on Optimization Early Career Prize (SIAG/OPT Early Career Prize) is awarded every three years to an outstanding early career researcher in the field of optimization for distinguished contributions to the field in the six calendar years prior to the award year.

Read the full prize specifications.

Eligibility Criteria

The award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, influential, and potentially long-lasting contributions to the field of optimization within six years of receiving the Ph.D. or equivalent degree as of January 1 of the award year. The contribution(s) for which the award is given must be publicly available and may belong to any aspect of optimization in its broadest sense.

The contribution(s) for which the award is given may include paper(s) published in English in peer-reviewed journal(s) or conference proceedings, or high quality freely available open source software. The committee expects evidence of independent contribution by the candidate.

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. The award can be received only once in a lifetime.

For the 2026 award, the candidate must have been awarded their Ph.D. no earlier than January 1, 2020 and no later than the nomination deadline.

Required Materials

  • Nominator’s letter of recommendation for candidate
  • CV of the candidate
  • Two or three letters of support from experts in the field

About the Award

The SIAG/OPT Early Career Prize includes a certificate containing the award citation. As a part of the award, the recipient will be invited to give a brief talk at the conference. Travel funds will be made available to reimburse the recipient for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the award ceremony and giving the talk.

Learn more about the past recipients and selection committees.

Award Date

The prize will be awarded at the 2026 SIAM Conference on Optimization.

Award Presentation

The SIAG/OPT Chair and the Chair of the SIAG/OPT Prize Committee on the Early Career Prize will announce the award at the SIAM Conference on Optimization and present the award to the recipient.