Young Scientist Meeting Award

As forensic toxicology continues to evolve, it has become increasingly clear that the bench level scientist is the indispensable and under-appreciated tool of the forensic toxicology laboratory. It is at the bench where the advancement of this complex science occurs. Unfortunately, often due to budget constraints, it is the bench level scientist that gets left behind in the laboratory at SOFT meeting time.

To compliment the ERA that is designed for students, the Board of Directors has established the Young Scientist Meeting Award (YSMA) to encourage the involvement of the bench level scientist in SOFT. Approved in 2002, the first award was given at the SOFT annual meeting in 2003 in Portland, Oregon. The award is for any bench level scientist with  five-years' or less experience that is working in the field of forensic toxicology (B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.). Currently, the award is $2,500 plus a complimentary basic SOFT meeting registration fee. These funds are to be used to offset travel expenses to the annual SOFT meeting. In addition to the experience requirement, the applicant must complete a research project that advances the field of forensic toxicology and report the findings at the annual SOFT meeting. The type of presentation (platform or oral) will be decided upon by the scientific program committee for the annual meeting at which the award is to be presented.

Purpose

To encourage training and research in areas related to forensic toxicology, recognizing young bench scientists working in the field. The Young Scientist Meeting Award (YSMA) is for bench level scientists to undertake projects and get involved in the annual SOFT meetings. This award is to be used by the recipients to offset travel expenses incurred for the annual SOFT meeting.

Eligibility

The YSMA will recognize bench level scientists (B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.) with five-years' or less experience in the field of forensic toxicology. Applications will be competitive. Awardees may not reapply. Abstracts must be accepted by the scientific program committee for the current years SOFT meeting.

• Note 1: In addition to the monetary award, a certificate of recognition will also be presented to the awardee at the SOFT Business Meeting which is held at the annual SOFT meeting.
• Note 2: Awards are to be made at the discretion of the ERA Committee based upon excellence, relevance to forensic toxicology or other criteria established by SOFT and the ERA Committee. It is not required award(s) be made each year.

Requirements of the YSMA Application 

1. Completion of an YSMA Application Form.
2. Abstract in SOFT Annual Meeting format (MS Word).
3. Brief summary of research plan. This should include hypothesis, experimental design, results and conclusion. If several projects have been completed as part of their studies, each should be addressed in the same format. Each project should not exceed 1 page in length.
4. One (1) letter of recommendation from a supervisor on company/agency letterhead attesting to applicant's capabilities and the writer's willingness to ensure the award will be used to offset expenses for attendance of the applicant at the SOFT annual meeting. Note: It is not a requirement that the applicant be a member of SOFT. If the applicant is not a member of SOFT, the person writing the letter of recommendation must be a full or charter member.
5. A resume or curriculum vitae of the applicant.
6. The application deadline is the first Friday in April, the year of the annual meeting.

Notification of Award to Applicant: No later than June 1 of year of award.

Questions? Email Awards Committee Chair Tim Rohrig, Ph.D.
 

Previous Award Recipients of the Young Scientist Meeting Award