SPER Annual Awards

Heinz Berendes International Travel Award:

The Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER) requests submissions of manuscripts for the Heinz Berendes International Travel Award.  The manuscript should represent work in reproductive, perinatal, or pediatric epidemiology, and research that concerns populations in developing countries is encouraged.

To be eligible for this award, the applicant SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED THIS WORK OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE RESIDED IN THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA. The paper must be unpublished at the time of submission.  Authors do not have to be SPER members to apply for the award but are asked to join SPER if selected for presentation.  The winner will present the selected paper at the SPER Annual Meeting.

An award of $250 plus expenses for travel, 2 days lodging (3 days in 2012 for extended meeting), and SPER Annual Meeting registration will be given to the author of the paper selected by the International Travel Award Committee. The submitted manuscript should be prepared according to the Author Guidelines in the journal Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.  Follow this link to view the Instructions to Authors. You will also be asked to provide the name and address of your academic affiliation or research establishment and your country of residence in the previous six months. 

Please note:  Applicants must also submit the abstract of their paper via the regular Annual Meeting call for abstracts to ensure consideration for the program should their manuscript not be selected for the award.

To apply for this award, please submit using the online form by Friday, March 2nd 5pm Pacific Time. The following required document must be submitted with the application in pdf format:

1.    Manuscript in PPE format - saved as a pdf file.

Evaluation of Applications
Applications will be evaluated by a committee chaired by the SPER Past-President.  The committee will be composed of the SPER Past-President, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discretion of the SPER Past-President.  The paper will be evaluated according to 5 distinct criteria: originality, soundness of analytical methods, biological rationale, global impact, and public health importance. 

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Student Prize Paper Award:

The Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER) requests manuscript submission for consideration for the annual Student Prize Paper Award. This competition is open to graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, research trainees, and clinical fellows interested in reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric epidemiology. The winner of the award will present the selected paper at the SPER Annual Meeting.

An award of $500 plus expenses for travel, 2 days lodging (3 days in 2012 for extended meeting), and SPER Annual Meeting registration will be given to the author of the selected paper. The paper should represent work in reproductive, perinatal, or pediatric epidemiology conducted as a student or trainee during the two years prior to the upcoming meeting. The paper must be written by the student/trainee and must be unpublished at the time of the meeting. The submitted manuscript should be prepared according to the Author Guidelines in the journal Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. Follow this link to view the Instructions to Authors.

The author may submit the paper simultaneously to the Abraham Lilienfeld Student Prize Paper competition of the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER); however, if the paper is selected for that award, it will not be eligible for the SPER award. Authors do not have to be SPER members to apply for the award but are asked to join SPER if selected for presentation. The winner will present the selected paper at the SPER Annual Meeting.

Please note: Applicants must also submit the abstract of their paper via the regular Annual Meeting call for abstracts to ensure consideration for the program should their manuscript not be selected for the award. To be eligible for student status at the meeting, individuals must be students, trainees or fellows at an academic or research institution at the time of the SPER annual meeting. Documentation of student or trainee status is required.

To apply for this award, please submit using the online form by Friday, March 2nd 5pm Pacific Time. The following required documents must be submitted with the application in ONE pdf file:

1. Manuscript in PPE format
2. Letter of support from mentor under whom the work was completed indicating student or trainee's specific contribution

Evaluation of Applications
Applications will be evaluated by a committee chaired by the SPER President-Elect. The committee will be composed of the SPER President-Elect, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discretion of the SPER President-Elect. The paper will be evaluated according to 6 distinct criteria: originality, soundness of analytical methods, biological rationale, involvement of student in data collection, letter of support from mentor, and public health importance.

 

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Mentoring Award:

This award is to recognize the importance of dedicated and skilled mentors in the development of reproductive, pediatric, and perinatal epidemiologists (RPPE) at all levels. The nominees will be evaluated based on proficiency in mentoring skills, dedication to mentoring, and attention to advisee development both technically, professionally, and personally in the field of RPPE epidemiology. Nominees should demonstrate effective people skills, motivate and inspire the mentee to excel, and should serve as a role model, teaching and demonstrating high standards of performance and integrity.

Eligibility - Individuals with an established career from academia, government, or the private sector are eligible. Candidates should be at the Associate Professor rank or above if in academia or at an equivalent senior rank in government agencies or industry. Nominees must be SPER members in good standing.

To apply for this award, please submit using the online form by Friday, March 2nd 5pm Pacific Time. The following required documents must be submitted with the application in ONE pdf file:

1. A letter of nomination from a SPER member
2. No more than two additional letters from persons who have been or currently are being mentored by the nominee (including but not limited to student advisees, junior faculty or staff)
3. The nominee's curriculum vitae

Evaluation of Applications
Nominations will be evaluated by a committee chaired by the SPER President-Elect. The committee will be composed of the SPER President-Elect, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discretion of the SPER President-Elect. Individuals will be evaluated according to 4 distinct criteria: evidence of mentee's success, letters of recommendation, contributions to the field as a mentor, and participation in SPER activities. There is an important distinction between academic standing and mentoring accomplishments. This award is intended to highlight individuals as mentors only. Nomination packages will be considered for 1 year after nomination and will be automatically re-evaluated as a candidate for the next selection of the Mentor Award. It is at the discretion of the nominator to update any relevant information.

 

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Rising Star Award:

This award is to recognize early to mid-career investigators whose achievements and potential set them on a trajectory to become research leaders in the field of reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiology. We will consider their overall research contribution thus far, including publications, presentations, and influence on the field. We will also take into account their likely future role as their careers continue to evolve.

Eligibility - Early to mid-career investigators from academia, government, or the private sector are eligible. Candidates should be at the Assistant to Associate Professor rank if in academia (more advanced than post-doctoral fellow, but not at the full professor level) or an equivalent employment status if outside academia. The time since the highest degree should be no more than 7 years. Potential candidates may be nominated by any SPER member, however, the nominated individuals are responsible for submitting the Rising Star package outlined below.

To apply for this award, please submit using the online form by Friday, March 2nd 5pm Pacific Time. The following required documents must be submitted with the application in ONE pdf file:

1. A letter of nomination from a SPER member outlining specific achievements and career trajectory
2. Copies of the nominee's three most important publications
3. The nominee's curriculum vitae
4. Two letters of recommendation

Evaluation of Applications
Nominations will be evaluated by a committee chaired by the SPER President-Elect. The committee will be composed of the SPER President-Elect, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discretion of the SPER President-Elect. Individuals will be evaluated according to 4 distinct criteria: originality of the body of work supported only by the three papers submitted with the application, involvement in SPER activities, strength of letters of nomination and recommendation, evaluation of curriculum vitae (for evidence of outstanding accomplishment in a short period of time and a positive trajectory).