The 2024 applications are now closed. Applications for next year’s award to open Fall 2024.

Award:

  • Travel and accommodation for the ISAPP Annual Meeting in Cork, Ireland in July 2024 (economy flights, conference accommodation and meals provided by ISAPP in accordance with the ISAPP travel policy)
  • Plenary speaker slot
  • Award plaque

Selection criteria:

  • The key criteria for the award is scientific merit and impact, which will be assessed from a combination of current research work (scientific abstract) and previous contributions and achievements (curriculum vitae and letter of support).
  • The research performed by the applicant within the past 1-2 years must be on probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, synbiotics, fermented foods, or other microbiome or biotic-related areas of interest.

Eligibility:

  • Applicants may include graduate students (enrolled in full-time MSc/PhD degree or equivalent) and postdoctoral fellows (within 3 years of their terminal degree or doctorate)
  • Applicants must reside and be enrolled/employed in a country or territory with a DAC ranking of Low (L) or Low-Middle (LM) income as determined by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Acknowledging the need to uplift all regions, further economic justification will not be required.
  • Applicants must register as members of the Students and Fellows Association (SFA) of ISAPP. Note: There are no cost or fees to be an SFA member. Sign-up or renew your membership here.

Application Package and Process:  

Eligible applicants are required to submit the following documents to apply:

  1. The completed and signed Application Form (link to download below).
  2. A structured Abstract of the applicant’s recent (within 2 years) research – max 400 words, with an Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion section.
  3. A brief Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting research contributions, community involvement, and past awards or other accolades.
  4. A Cover letter explaining the applicant’s work, the research environment in which the work is being done and how the award will influence the applicant’s career (max. one page).
  5. A Letter of support from their current supervisor, including verification that the applicant performed the work described in the abstract, giving permission to attend the full ISAPP meeting and providing mentorship in preparing the oral presentation in English (max. one page).
  6. A formal letter/transcript from the applicant’s current Research institution, providing confirmation of current enrolment/appointment status.

Submissions are being reviewed by an Awards Committee comprised of members of the ISAPP SFA Executive Committee with administrative oversight from the ISAPP Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified via email of their award status by December 30th, 2023. The successful applicant will be expected to attend the ISAPP annual meeting in person, July 9-11th in Cork, Ireland (with travel provided in accordance with ISAPP policy) to receive the award. The selected award recipient will also participate in the SFA program for the meeting to gain the same opportunities as other students and fellows attending.

Award Rules

The recipient of the award will be selected in the sole discretion of an Awards Committee designated by the ISAPP Board of Directors, based on criteria determined by the Awards Committee (provided said criteria and determination do not conflict with any rule, policy or procedure adopted by the ISAPP Board of Directors).  By submitting his or her application, the applicant agrees to all Award Rules and consents to and authorizes ISAPP to conduct research into the background of the applicant, including verification of information provided in the application documents and the interviewing of persons deemed by the Awards Committee as having information germane to the applicant’s qualification for an Award.  Information collected during said research shall be maintained as confidential by ISAPP, except that information may, in the discretion of the Awards Committee, be disclosed publicly with the permission of the applicant, or as may otherwise be required by law.  The decision of the Awards Committee shall be final.  The award may be revoked by the ISAPP Board of Directors if the recipient of the award engages in conduct harmful to the reputation and interests of ISAPP, or if an application includes materially false or misleading information.

Applications must be submitted during the application period determined by ISAPP.  Applications shall include a complete Award Application package as described above – applications not accompanied by this package will not be considered.  Applicants must provide appropriate and accurate information to be assessed for the eligibility criteria. Applicants deemed to be ineligible based on one or more criteria will not be considered. Applications should be completed by the applicant or their delegate – third party nominations without nominee involvement are not permitted. Information set forth in applications may be published at the discretion of ISAPP. Applications will not be returned to the submitting party.

The granting of the award is conditional upon the recipient attending the award ceremony in person. The Board shall determine the time and place of the award ceremony, and may provide travel expenses in accordance with ISAPP policy. Whether an award is given each year, and the number of awards given per year is at the discretion of the Awards committee.  Immigration and visa status and related expenses shall be the sole responsibility of the Award recipient.

The ISAPP Board of Directors is empowered to adopt, enact and change written rules, policies and procedures relating to the Award, and shall have final authority to address all issues and conflicts relating to or arising out of the Award. Any matters not addressed by this announcement or in ISAPP will be addressed at the sole discretion of the ISAPP Board of Directors.