The intramural scientific program of NICHD established two mentoring awards in 2008 to recognize individuals who have served as exceptional mentors to trainees in the institute. The awards are given annually, at the NICHD Intramural Scientific Retreat in September, to one investigator (tenured, tenure-track, staff clinician, or staff scientist) and to one fellow (postdoctoral, clinical, visiting, or research fellow).
Applications for the 2024 awards are now being accepted through Wednesday, July 31, 2024! Scroll down for instructions and the nomination form link.
Current Winners
2023: Ryan Dale, Ph.D., Bioinformatics and Scientific Programming Core, DIR (Investigator)
2023: Mor Alkaslasi, Unit on the Development of Neurodegeneration, DIR (Fellow)
Past Winners
Investigator
- 2022: Edwina Yeung, Ph.D., Epidemiology Branch, DIPHR
- 2022: Laura Pillay, Ph.D., Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis, DIR
- 2021: Thomas Dever, Ph.D., Section on Protein Biosynthesis, DIR
- 2021: Tanja Nansel, Ph.D., Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch, DIPHR
- 2020: Leah Lipsky, Ph.D., M.H.S., Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch, DIPHR
- 2020: Brant Weinstein, Ph.D., Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis, DIR
- 2019: Alan G. Hinnebush, Ph.D., Section on Nutrient Control of Gene Expression, DIR
- 2018: Li Qi Li, M.D., Ph.D., Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, DIR
- 2018: Stephen Gilman, Sc.D., Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch, DIPHR
- 2017: Tamás Balla, M.D., Ph.D., Section on Molecular Signal Transduction.
- 2016: Julian Lui, Ph.D. (Staff Scientist), Section on Growth and Development
- 2015: Karl Pfeifer, Ph.D., Section on Genomic Imprinting
- 2014: Brant Weinstein, Ph.D., Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis
- 2013: Mary Dasso, Ph.D., Section on Cell Cycle Regulation
- 2012: Karl Pfeifer, Ph.D., Section on Genomic Imprinting
- 2011: Roger Woodgate, Ph.D., Laboratory of Genomic Integrity
- 2010: Ramanujan Hegde, M.D., Ph.D., Section on Protein Biogenesis
- 2009: Thomas E. Dever, Ph.D., Section on Protein Biosynthesis
- 2008: Richard J. Maraia, M.D., Section on Molecular and Cellular Biology
Fellow
- 2021: Cole Malloy, Ph.D., Section on Neurophysiology, DIR
- 2020: Hyun Min Jung, Ph.D. Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis, DIR
- 2019: Maria Queralt-Martin, Ph.D., Section on Molecular Transport, DIR
- 2018: Marina Venero Galanternik, Ph.D., Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis, DIR
- 2018: Jeremy Luk, Ph.D., Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch, DIPHR
- 2017: Amber Stratman, Ph.D., Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis
- 2016: Shlomo Krispin, Ph.D., Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis
- 2015: Chad McCormick, Ph.D., Section on Membrane and Cellular Biophysics
- 2014: Elias Leiva-Salcedo, Ph.D., Section on Cellular Signaling
- 2013: Schuyler van Engelenburg, Ph.D., Section on Organelle Biology
- 2012: Prabuddha Sengupta, Ph.D., Section on Organelle Biology
- 2011: Laurie Waters, Ph.D., Section on Environmental Gene Regulation
- 2010: Errett Hobbs, Ph.D., Section on Environmental Gene Regulation
- 2009: Elizabeth Fozo, Ph.D., Section on Environmental Gene Regulation
- 2008: Itai Tzchori, Ph.D., Section on Mammalian Molecular Genetics
Nomination Process
- Nominations will be sought each year through e-mails to current trainees, fellows, and investigators in NICHD. Typically, the nominator will be mentored by his or her nominee, but a colleague or supervisor may also propose someone for either of these two awards.
- A statement of support is required, not to exceed 500 words.
- Although there are no precise requirements, the statement may refer to:
- How the mentor has supported your development as a scientist and/or clinician
- What is outstanding about this individual, that goes beyond what is expected of all mentors
- as well as:
- the nature of communications with your mentor
- how ideas and knowledge are shared
- the environment in the lab or clinic
- the balance between supervision and autonomy
- how feedback is given
- what opportunities to learn and advance professionally are provided.
- Examples to illustrate points about the nominee are appreciated and will help to persuade the reviewers.
Nominations should be submitted at the following survey link: https://forms.office.com/g/dnN59dnXrn
Due date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
Questions, or trouble shooting for the submission form, should be directed to Dr. Megan Bohn.
Review of Nominees
- A selection committee of NICHD fellows at the postbac, graduate student, and postdoc level, will review each submission and work to achieve consensus on the winners. If several nominees are considered equally meritorious, the group may vote to finalize their selections.
- Awards will be made to winners in both the investigator and the fellow categories at the annual PI retreat, held each fall. All members of the intramural NICHD community will be invited.
- Awards will include a certificate for the individual winners and publicity on the DIR web site.