Dear SMBE Members:

SMBE is now calling for nominations for recipients of the faculty awards for Early-Career Excellence, Mid-Career Excellence, and Lifetime Contribution. Please consider nominating those of your colleagues you believe deserve to be rewarded for their extraordinary achievements and dedication to the field. Updated descriptions of the awards follow; please read them carefully. 

Nominations require a nomination letter, which should clearly indicate the award under consideration and also serve as a recommendation letter; a separate one-page summary of the nominee’s qualifications for the award; a CV of the nominee; and an additional letter of recommendation. Self-nomination is not allowed. The nominator need not be an SMBE member, but the nominee must be a member of SMBE to be considered for the award.

SMBE Early-Career Excellence Award

This award is intended for outstanding members of the SMBE community who are in the early stages of an independent research career (3-7 years post-Ph.D.). The primary signal of research excellence is a trajectory of innovative, creative research that is moving the field of Molecular Biology and Evolution forward.  The ideal candidate will be one whose career embodies the values of the society, for example in mentoring, outreach, and teaching. The prize includes recognition at the annual SMBE banquet, a cash prize of $1000 and a travel award (to cover travel and accommodation, we offer reimbursement of up to $3000USD for intercontinental (or flights over 5 hours) and $2000 USD for intracontinental travel. Registration is free using waiver codes, and reimbursements will be made with receipts after the conference). This award will be made annually. 

SMBE Mid-Career Excellence Award

This award is intended for outstanding members of the SMBE community who are in the midst of their research careers (8-15 years post-Ph.D.). The primary criterion is a record of truly outstanding research that has contributed broadly to the field of Molecular Biology and Evolution. The ideal candidate will be one whose career embodies the values of the society, for example in mentoring, outreach, and teaching. The prize includes recognition at the annual SMBE banquet, a cash prize of $1000 and a travel award (to cover travel and accommodation, we offer reimbursement of up to $3000USD for intercontinental (or flights over 5 hours) and $2000 USD for intracontinental travel. Registration is free using waiver codes, and reimbursements will be made with receipts after the conference). This award will be made annually. 

SMBE Lifetime Contribution Award

This award is intended for outstanding senior members of the SMBE community (25 years post-Ph.D.).  The primary criterion is a record of truly outstanding research that has contributed broadly to the field of Molecular Biology and Evolution. The ideal candidate will be one whose career embodies the values of the society, for example in mentoring, outreach, and teaching. The prize includes recognition at the annual SMBE banquet, a cash prize of $1000 and a travel award (to cover travel and accommodation, we offer reimbursement of up to $3000USD for intercontinental (or flights over 5 hours) and $2000 USD for intracontinental travel. Registration is free using waiver codes, and reimbursements will be made with receipts after the conference). This award will be made annually. 

The materials should be compiled into a single PDF file, and should be emailed to smbe@am.kwglobal.com before 15 April 2025.

For more information on each award and the specific application details please see the link here: https://www.smbe.org/smbe/AWARDS/FacultyAwards.aspx

Best Regards,
Stephen Wright
SMBE Past President