NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize 2020 for Young Researchers (US$25,000 prize)

Deadline: January 24, 2020

Applications are open for the NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize 2020. The NOSTER Science Microbiome Prize has been established to reward innovative research by young investigators working on the functional attributes of the microbiota of any organism that has potential to contribute to our understanding of human or veterinary health and disease or to guide therapeutic interventions.

No one walks alone. Every human is enveloped by and contains trillions of microorganisms. The past decade’s research has revealed the essential nature of the relationships with these other organisms for healthy development and adult life. Research on the microbiome has blossomed thanks to technological advances in genomics and bioinformatics. Already, many surprising discoveries have been made about the fundamental role the microbiota play in inflammation, cancer, obesity and many other chronic non-communicable diseases that assail humans.

The groundwork has been laid for a shift of gear from mapping microbial associations with health and disease states to working out the mechanistic details and the dynamics of the interactions between hosts and their microbiota. This growing field promises to translate fundamental discoveries and help answer questions about healthy human development, metabolism, and immunity.

Prizes

• Grand Prize winner receives:

• Each Grand Prize winner will be awarded a cash prize in the amount of US$25,000 and travel and accommodation for the prize ceremony.
• The Grand Prize winner will also receive a free five (5) year digital subscription to Science, and will have their winning essay published in Science (print and online).

• Runner(s) Up receives:

• Each Runner up will receive an award plaque and travel and accommodation for the prize ceremony.
• The Runner(s) Up will also receive a free one (1) year digital subscription to Science, and will have their winning essay published in Science online. Maximum number of Runners Up is 2.

Eligibility

• Entrants must be younger than thirty-five (35) years of age
• Must hold an M.D., PhD.or M.D./Ph.D at the time of entry, and have received their degree in the last 10 years.
• The applicant must have done or directed all of the work and it must have been performed in the past three years.

Submission

The Prize will be judged on the basis of 1,000-word essay and supporting documents. The essay should describe the innovative research performed by the applicant that reveals exciting novel functions of the microbiota that has potential to contribute to our understanding of human or veterinary health and disease or to guide therapeutic interventions.

Judging Process

Editors from Science will be responsible for the initial evaluation of the essays. The top 10 percent of the essays will be forwarded to the judging panel. The judging panel will be composed of prominent international researchers in the field of microbiome research. The essays will be rated in two areas: scientific quality and significance, and clarity and style of the writing.

Application

The entrant must submit the following items:

• A completed Entry Form
• An essay, written by the entrant, which describes his or her research and places it in perspective with respect to current research in the field of microbiome research. The essay must not exceed 1,000 words in length. The applicant must have done or directed all of the work and it must have been performed in the past three years.
• A one-page letter of recommendation from his or her postdoctoral adviser, supervisor, or other senior colleague who is familiar with the entrant’s work.
• A Curriculum Vitae that includes the following:

• Full citations of papers that the entrant has published on the research described in the essay
• Academic and professional awards and honors that the entrant has received; and
• Relevant professional experience

• Copies of two of the entrant’s papers that are most relevant to the essay.

The Entry Form and additional submission materials must be submitted electronically through the prize management system here