American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Awards

Eligibility

The ASM Awards and Prize program recognizes microbiologists who have made significant contributions to advance the microbial sciences. The program is managed by the American Academy of Microbiology and consists of 16 awards—covering every career level and sub-discipline of the field—and 1, newly incorporated, prize.  

Full list available here.

• ASM Microbiome Data Prize
• ASM William A. Hinton Awards for Advancement of a Diverse Community of Microbiologists
• ASM Lifetime Achievement Award
• ASM Award for Research and Leadership in Clinical Microbiology
• ASM Award for Applied and Biotechnological Research
• ASM D.C. White Award
• ASM Award for Early Career Applied and Biotechnological Research
• ASM Award for Early Career Basic Research
• ASM Award for Basic Research
• ASM Alice C. Evans Award for Advancement of Women
• ASM Award for Early Career Environmental Research
• ASM Award for Environmental Research
• ASM Carski Award for Undergraduate Education

Summary

ASM Award Nomination Process

To put forward a nominee for an ASM Award, the nominator should take note of the following items to maximize the chance of the nominee being reviewed and selected for the award:  

• Self-nominations will not be accepted for ASM Awards (in other words, you cannot nominate yourself for an ASM Award).
• Each nomination requires 1 nominator and 2 supporters.
• Nominees are highly encouraged to collaborate with the nominator and supporters in preparing the nomination submission. 
• Only 1 person from among the nominator and 2 supporters can be affiliated with the same employment unit (e.g., institution, company, center, department) as the nominee.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the nominee is required to complete the nomination. After the nomination form is submitted by the nominator, the nominee will be contacted by ASM and asked to enter highlights from his/her CV on a CV template or provide the current CV. Completing the CV template is highly recommended; however, the selection committee will accept either the template or the nominee’s current CV.
• All nominations must be submitted online. The nomination and CV must be received by the deadline.
• Nomination form can be saved, completed and submitted in multiple sittings. However, only submitted nomination forms will be reviewed. Saved forms that were not submitted will be discarded after the deadline.

ASM Prize Application Process

To submit an application for the Microbiome Data Prize, the applicant should take note of the following items to maximize the chance of the application being reviewed and selected for the prize:  

• Review the description of the Prize carefully as it has specific requirements.
• Each application requires 2 supporters who are non-funded collaborators. Supporters must submit their letters of support by the deadline for the application to be considered.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)—Applicants will be required to enter highlights from their CVs on the prize application form.
• Applications must be submitted online by the deadline.
• Application form can be saved, completed and submitted in multiple sittings. However, only submitted application forms will be reviewed. Saved forms that were not submitted will be discarded after the deadline.

FAQ:

Can I nominate myself for an ASM Award?

Self-nomination is not allowed for ASM Awards, so you may NOT nominate yourself for an ASM Award. However, potential Award nominees are encouraged to reach out and collaborate with a colleague to ask for their nomination and support.

Can I nominate myself for the Microbiome Data Prize?

The Microbiome Data Prize is by application and does not require a nominator. Individuals interested in receiving the award must apply for the award themselves by completing and submitting an application form online.

Two of my colleagues want to nominate me for the X Award. They plan to submit two separate nominations for that award.  Will that increase my chances of receiving the award?

No, if a nominee is nominated more than once for the same award, the nominee will be informed and asked to select which nomination s/he would like the selection committee to review. We suggest that nominees coordinate with nominator(s) to avoid duplicate nominations 

Do I need to be an ASM member to be eligible for an ASM Award?

Not all of the ASM Awards require ASM membership. A careful review of the award description is critical.
 

I identify as a woman.  Do I have a lower chance of being selected for an ASM Award?

ASM embraces the concept of diversity, equity and inclusion. We maintain that all nominees are fairly reviewed and evaluated based on the merits of their work, not their gender, race, etc.
 

I am an ethnic minority nominee. I am reluctant to reveal my demographic information. Why does ASM ask for the demographic information? How do I ensure my data is safe and does not work against me?

The field of microbiology has changed significantly in the last decades. ASM embraces the concept of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Thus, we want to know how we are making progress in ensuring that historically underrepresented groups have access and get nominated for the awards. An organization-wide policy and new practices were put in place to support DEI efforts. Your data will not be shared with any third party and will not be used in any part of the award decision-making process. 

I was nominated for an ASM award a few years ago but did not get selected. Should I try again?

Absolutely. We encourage nominees who did not receive an award in the past to try again. Due to a variety of factors, a strong nominee might not be selected in any given year. Nominees will be evaluated using the same standards applied for that year for all nominees.

I work in industry. Am I eligible for an ASM Award?

Microbiologists in all sectors should be nominated and will be considered for the ASM Awards. Diversity in expertise and background is essential. Regardless of the sector in which one is working, contribution to the field of microbial sciences is the key to distinguish the nominees.

What should I do to make my nomination stand out?

• Spend time preparing your CV by following the format and guidelines. Make sure the information is clear to facilitate the review process.
• Communicate with your nominator and supporters to ensure they have the information that they need.
• Remind the nominator to submit the materials before the deadline.

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.