Awards

Graduate Student Research Paper Award

The Molecular Foundry User Executive Committee (UEC) is pleased to continue the annual Graduate Student Research Paper Award of $1,500 to be given to an exceptional first-authored student paper published between 2019-2021. The paper must be based on work performed at and acknowledging the Molecular Foundry, and the first author must have been a student when the majority of the work was performed, graduating no earlier than 2019.

Eligibility and Criteria

  • Research paper must be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
  • Date of first publication should be 2019 or later.
  • The paper must be based on work performed at the Molecular Foundry.
  • Use of the Molecular Foundry must be acknowledged in the paper.
  • The first author graduate student should have graduated no earlier than 2019.
  • Nominations can be submitted by the student’s research advisor or by Molecular Foundry staff. Students are encouraged to inform research advisors and Molecular Foundry staff of the opportunity to nominate, but self-nominations are not accepted.
  • Previous nominees who meet eligibility criteria, and have not won this award, may be nominated again.
  • Co-first-authored papers will be accepted. The contribution of each first author should be explained in detail.
  • Abstract submissions for an oral or poster presentation at the User Meeting are still encouraged, but the winner of the student paper award will be excluded from the poster competition.
  • The winner must participate in the virtual event.

Nomination and Selection Process

  1. A statement summarizing the novelty and impact of the work (20 words maximum)
  2. A nomination letter from the student’s Principal Investigator or Foundry Staff contact
    • Letters should clearly articulate:
      • What was the student’s contribution to the work?
      • What is the scientific merit of this work?
      • What were the challenging aspects of this work?
      • Which Foundry capabilities were engaged, and how central were these to the work?
    • Because of the Foundry’s highly multidisciplinary nature, the nomination letter should use language suitable for non-experts in the field.
  3. Student Curriculum Vitae
  4. PDF copy of the manuscript

Nominations will be evaluated by the User Executive Committee.

Submission Process and Deadline

  • Nominations close on June 30th, 2021 July 2, 2021.

Prize

A $1,500 prize is awarded to the best first-author graduate student paper. The award winner will give a 20-minute Plenary Talk at the User Meeting, at 8:40 am on August 20th, 2021.

Awards Criteria Text 2021

Congratulations to our recent winners of the Graduate Student Research Paper Award!

  • David Nenon, 2020
  • Camille Stavrakas, 2019

Please direct questions to Shannon Ciston (sciston@lbl.gov).

Nominate a Student

Outstanding Staff Service Award

The Molecular Foundry User Executive Committee (UEC) is soliciting nominations for the Outstanding Staff Service Award that will be presented on August 21st, 2020, during the User Meeting. This annual award recognizes staff that have provided outstanding service by going above and beyond to support the user community.

Nomination materials

  • A nomination statement (300 word maximum) highlighting the nominated staff member’s efforts in supporting and assisting users, providing specific examples of the outstanding service.
  • Nominations may list additional users supporting the nomination. Supporters will be contacted by the User Executive Committee and required to confirm their support to the nomination.
  • Nominations close on June 30th, 2021 July 2, 2021.
  • The winner will be announced at the plenary session at 8:30 am, Pacific, on August 20th, 2021.

Eligibility

  • Staff who have not won the Staff Service Award in the previous three years are eligible.
  • Staff must be employed by the Molecular Foundry at the time of nomination to be eligible.

Congratulations to our recent winners of the Staff Service Award!

  • Colin Ophus, 2020
  • Karen Bustillo, 2019
  • Scott Dhuey, 2018

Please direct questions to Shannon Ciston (sciston@lbl.gov).

Nominate a Staff Member

Poster Competition

The poster competition is organized and judged by the User Executive Committee.

Eligibility: Students and postdocs are eligible to participate in the poster competition, as well as industry researchers who hold equivalent, non-PI positions. To be included in the competition, participants must opt in when they submit their poster abstract.

Judging: The User Executive Committee will judge the poster competition. Judges will review the summary slides prior to the live event to select poster competition finalists. During the live poster fair, the judges will meet with finalists to hear their lightning talks, ask questions, and complete a poster scoring rubric.

Awards: 3-4 winners will be selected. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded during the second plenary session on August 20th, 2021. Winners will receive a certificate and a $100 prize.