Young Scientist Award

The session provides the opportunity for students and early-career scientists to showcase their talents and is designed to recognise the best young researchers

The Young Scientist Award Session (YSAS) is held each year at the SEB Conference.

The session provides the opportunity for postgraduates and post docs, who are within 5 years since completing their PhD, to showcase their talents and is designed to recognise the best young researchers. There are three prizes per section (i.e. Animal-Cell and Plant-Cell). Prizes on offer are as follows:

  • 1st Prize: £400
  • Runners up: 2 x £100

 

HOW TO ENTER:

  • Submit an abstract online for a relevant session at the SEB Conference. During submission, please tick the box which says "I would like to be considered for YSAS".
  • Submit an extended version of that abstract for judging by a panel together with two letters of references (one of which should confirm your status). For more information on preparing the extended abstract see the frequently asked questions below.

 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  • The extended abstracts will be judged and the three best candidates per section will be invited to give a presentation to a panel of judges at the SEB Conference.
  • The presentations, based on the extended abstract, will be given at the SEB Conference and a winner and two runners up from each section will be chosen on the basis of those presentations.
  • The winners of the award will be announced during the Medal and Prize session on 5 July 2022.

 

 

 

 

FAQs

APPLICANT INFORMATION

YSAS application deadlines

YSAS application will close on 29 March 2022.  The application for the Young Scientist Award is a two stage process so applicants will need to provide the SEB with the following information by 29 March 2022  to complete their application:

  • Extended version of your submitted abstract (one A4 page max in word document format and must follow our abstract template)
  • Two letters of reference, one of which should be from your supervisor or head of department, and should confirm your status as well as support your application.

Where do I submit my extended abstract and letters of reference?

All extended abstracts and letters of reference must be submitted by 29 March 2022 to Eniola Alalade on [email protected]. 

Can I enter the YSAS only or do I need to submit my work to another session?

You can not enter the Young Scientist Award without submitting an abstract to another session running at the Annual Conference. Your abstract can either be submitted for a poster or an oral presentation. Click here to see what sessions are taking place at the Annual Conference. 

Should my extended abstract be based on the abstract submitted for the Annual Conference?

Extended abstracts should be based on the abstract you submitted for the Annual Conference. It is the opportunity to showcase and describe your research in more detail to the judging panel. 

What should be included in the extended abstract?

Please download our   abstract template   which details how the abstract should be structured and what should be included in the extended abstract.

How will the extended abstracts be judged?

The extended abstracts will be judged by a panel of the SEB's Honorary Officers. Extended abstracts will be marked using the below criteria so please ensure your submission takes all these points into consideration.

What happens if I am not shortlisted for the YSAS award?

You will still have the opportunity to present the oral or poster presentation in the session you have submitted your abstract to.

If you have submitted for a poster presentation, you also have the opportunity to enter the Irene Manton poster prize and you can enter by submitting a PDF version of your poster to [email protected] by 31 May 2022. 

 

SHORTLISTED FINALISTS INFORMATION

All applicants will be contacted in late April 2022 to confirm whether they have been shortlisted for the YSAS award.

Can I give the same presentation in YSAS and another session?

Yes, although you should bear in mind the judging criteria when preparing your YSAS presentation.

When will the YSAS presentations take place?

The YSAS presentations will take place between 11:30 - 13:00 on Tuesday 5 July 2022.

How will the presentation be judged?

The presentations will be judged by a small panel of representatives from the SEB. The following criteria will apply: 

Content  (60 marks) 
  • Introduction (nature & scope of problem clearly & concisely outlined)
  • Aims/Questions and/or Hypotheses presented
  • Approach & Methodology outlined
  • Results
  • Significance of the research stated

Clarity of presentation (30 marks) 

  • Delivery (voice projection, engaging audience, professionalism)
  • Visual aids (e.g. text large enough, not cluttered)
  • Clarity of explanations
  • Timing

Ability to field questions (10 marks) 

  • Clearly & concisely answering questions raised 

When will the YSAS winners be announced?

The winners will be announced on Friday 5 July during the Medal and Prizes session after the Cell Biology Plenary Lecture.