2025 BWF BioInterfaces Rising Star Award

BWF BioInterfaces Rising Star Award

Sponsored by the BioInterfaces SIG (BioI) and Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), this annual award recognizes outstanding BioInterfaces research by postdoc-level scientists. The BWF BioInterfaces Rising Star Award seeks to stimulate and highlight research that advances a biomaterials lens to cutting-edge research in protein and cell biology, and, conversely, research that translates progress in molecular and cell biology into innovative biomaterials.

Details of the award: The awardee receives (i) a certificate and a cash award ($1000 USD); (ii) support for travel and registration costs to the 2025 SFB meeting (up to $400); and (iii) an invited talk as keynote speaker for the BioInterfaces SIG session at the 2025 SFB meeting. The winner will be responsible for providing a 1-minute rapid fire research outlook video to be uploaded to social media outlets.

Deadline for applications: Jan 19, 2025, at 5 PM ET.

Eligibility and application process:

1. Candidates must hold a PhD degree and the title of postdoctoral researcher at the time of application. Self-nominations are encouraged.

2. Eligible candidates need to submit the following items before the application deadline: (i) a digital copy (PDF) of one BioI-relevant manuscript published in last 2 years as first author; (ii) 1-page (≤800 words) lay summary/essay on their key BioI-related contributions, (iii) a short CV (2 pages maximum). These three items should be sent to the BioInterfaces SIG Program Chair as a single PDF file. The subject line of the email must have the following format: “Last name: BWF BioInterfaces Rising Star Award”. Additionally, (iv) the candidate should request two confidential letters of recommendation (one from PhD advisor; one from Postdoc advisor). These letters should be submitted directly to the BioInterfaces SIG Program Chair by the letter writers prior to the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the review committee.

3. The awardee will be selected by a committee formed by a diverse group of BWF and SFB members. For transparency, the committee members for each award year will be published in the BioI website.

4. The awardee will be announced in late February prior to the SFB meeting.