BMES Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award

Application Information

• Application Requirements

  1. NIH-formatted bio-sketch (not to exceed five pages) highlighting clear examples of research independence.
  2. A one-page research statement (not to exceed 500 words) highlighting examples of the nominee's ability to become a successful, independent PI and why the significance of their manuscript(s) is noteworthy in their respective field. 

  • We recommend that the nominee provide up to three research manuscripts that the applicant has published (or is in press). However, nominees with less than three publications can also apply if their manuscript(s) had a high impact.
  • The research statement should include a publicly available link to these published manuscripts selected by the nominee. If the manuscript is not publicly available, it should be attached to the application.

  3. Two letters of support — one letter should be by the Department Chair, and the second by a recognized authority in the field. These letters should attest to the significance of the nominee's laboratory work as an independent PI. 

  • These letters should be no longer than two pages each. The second letter should not be from a former mentor or anyone at the applicant's institution.

  4. The nominee should include a strong service statement highlighting their participation with BMES by providing two instances where they actively participated (i.e., serving on a committee, abstract reviewer, session chair, etc.) (not to exceed one page).

• Award Eligibility

  The award recognizes a high level of originality and ingenuity in scientific work in biomedical engineering as an early-stage, independent PI. The applicant must be:

  • Within seven years of completing their highest degree at the time of award nomination submission. Approved leave (e.g., maternity, paternity, or elder care) does not count towards the seven-year limit.

  • A tenure track faculty member at the Assistant Professor level at the time of award submission. 

  • A BMES member in good standing with demonstrated participation in the Society.

• Service to BMES

  The Applicant must be a BMES member in good standing with demonstrated participation within the Society such as serving on a Committee or assisting with the Annual BMES Meeting (Abstract reviewer, session chair, etc.). The applicant should list two situations where they have actively participated in the Society. 

• Selection Criteria

  The award committee selects the award recipient primarily on the review of up to three published manuscripts describing original, independent work. The nominee must be the corresponding/senior author or co-corresponding/co-senior author on all submitted work. The manuscript(s) may include PhD or post-doctoral mentors as authors, but the nominee must be clear about how this work is independent of their previous mentor's research.

• Award Rubric

  The 2025 award rubric is coming soon.

• Award and Honorarium

  The winner will receive a trophy, complimentary registration for the annual meeting, where they will present their lecture, and an honorarium of $5,000.

  **The Awards Committee will screen all nominations, critically evaluate the nominee's records, and submit its recommendation to the BMES Executive Committee for approval. 

  Make sure your application meets all the requirements stated above.