Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology SIMB Awards SIMB has honored a number of members and others over the years at the SIMB Annual Meeting. Nominations are received by the Awards and Honors Committee and are submitted to the board of directors for approval. To be notified of award updates and deadlines, sign-up for SIMB email alerts. Past Awardees Download the list of past award winners. List of SIMB awards and descriptions: SIMB Diversity Travel Award SBFC Diversity Travel Award Information + Form (PDF) Deadline: February 28, 2022 SIMB Annual Meeting Diversity Travel Award Information + Form (PDF) Deadline: March 1, 2022 RAFT® Diversity Travel Award Information + Form (PDF) Deadline: August 19, 2022 International Conference on Natural Products Discovery and Development in the Genomic Era Diversity Travel Award Information + Form (PDF) Deadline: October 14, 2022 The SIMB Diversity Travel Award has been established to promote diversity and to increase the participation of underrepresented minority groups in the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) amongst the graduate students making presentations at SIMB meetings. Bioeconomy Leadership Award Deadline: February 28, 2022 Download Nomination Form Presented at the Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels & Chemicals The “Bioeconomy Leadership Award” is given on behalf of the SBFC community to a company or non-governmental organization that has significantly advanced the development of a renewable resource-based fuels and chemicals economy. This award is intended to recognize demonstrated and sustained leadership excellence in enabling and realizing commercialization of biomass conversion technologies for fuels and chemicals production. Unique among the SBFC awards, the Bioeconomy Leadership Award is presented to a company or institution rather than to an individual. This award has been conceived to showcase organizational leadership in advancing development of the bio-based economy. Charles D. Scott Award Deadline: February 28, 2022 Download Nomination Form Presented at the Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels & Chemicals Initiated in 1995, the Charles D. Scott Award recognizes individuals who have made distinguished contributions to enable and further the use of biotechnology to produce fuels and chemicals. The award is named in honor of Dr. Charles D. Scott, who founded the Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels and Chemicals and chaired the conference for its first ten years. A member of the National Academy of Engineering and a director of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chuck performed research and development on many novel bioprocessing systems while at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) including high productivity bioreactors, immobilized microbes, enzymes in organic media, and coal bioprocessing. The nominees must have made one or more outstanding research contributions in biotechnology for the production of fuels and chemicals. These contributions should be of exceptional merit, reflecting independence of thought and originality that adds appreciably to scientific knowledge. Activities such as journal editing, organizing and chairing conferences, and serving scientific societies in official capacities may be considered, but the most important factor in selecting an awardee will be research accomplishments. The recipient of the Charles D. Scott Award will receive a plaque and complimentary registration for three successive annual meetings of the Symposium. Raphael Katzen Award Deadline: Not being awarded this year Presented at the Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels & Chemicals Initiated in 2008, the Raphael Katzen Award recognizes individuals who have made distinguished contributions to enable and further the deployment and commercialization of biotechnology to produce fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. This award is named in honor of Dr. Raphael Katzen, a pioneer in scaling up and commercializing technologies for converting renewable feedstocks into fuels and chemicals. Since the 1940s, when he first began working on converting wood waste to ethanol, Dr. Katzen played a major role in developing and improving corn dry milling technologies and in continuing to advance commercialization of lignocellulose conversion technologies. The nominee must have made substantial contributions to the development of commercial biotechnology for the production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. These contributions should be of exceptional merit, reflecting significant advancements in technology or commercial practices leading toward implementation. Activities such as fundamental research, publications, journal editing, organizing and chairing conferences, and serving scientific societies in official capacities may be considered, but the most important factor in selecting an awardee will be accomplishments in commercialization. The recipient of the Raphael Katzen Award will receive a plaque and complimentary registration for three successive annual meetings of the Symposium. SBFC Student Poster Awards Deadline: February 28, 2022 Submit Abstract for consideration Presented at the Symposium on Biomaterials for Fuels & Chemicals Two poster presentation awards, one each in the areas of Applied and Fundamental, will be offered at SBFC. Applicants must be present during the defined poster presentation times and will be judged anonymously. Winners will each receive a certificate as well as a $500 cash award and will be recognized at the Thursday banquet. Charles Porter Award Charles Porter Award Nomination Form (PDF) Deadline: April 15, 2022 Presented at the SIMB Annual Meeting Background This award recognizes meritorious service to the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) as exemplified by Charles Porter, co-founder of the SIMB. Attendance at the Annual Meeting award session is required to receive the award. The award consists of an appropriately inscribed plaque which will be presented by the SIMB President at the Annual Meeting. The SIMB will reimburse the awardee for travel such as coach airfare, meeting registration, special activities, meals and annual meeting hotel expenses. Qualifications The recipient is a current member and shall have been a member of the SIMB for a period of at least ten consecutive years and have an outstanding record of service to the SIMB. This record must be one of sustained service to the SIMB over a period of seven or more years in various capacities including a SIMB Officer, Chair of a standing or Presidential Committee, SIMB News Editor-in-Chief, JIMB Editor-in-Chief, SIMB Meeting Program Committee Chair, or other service to the SIMB acceptable to the Awards and Honors Committee (Committee) and Board of Directors (BOD). These other services may include, but are not limited to, serving as chair of multiple program sessions, organizing SIMB symposia or special conferences, or serving as a journal reviewer or Senior Editor of the JIMB. Charles Thom Award Charles Thom Award Nomination Form (PDF) Deadline: April 15, 2022 Presented at the SIMB Annual Meeting Background SIMB developed this Award, named for Charles Thom, a pioneer in industrial microbiology and mycology, to honor researchers for their exceptional merit in industrial microbiology and biotechnology, and their independence of thought and originality that added appreciably to scientific knowledge. Attendance at the Annual Meeting award session is required to receive the award. The award consists of an honorarium of $1000 for the lecture (if provided), a one year membership in SIMB and an appropriately inscribed plaque, all of which are presented at the Annual Meeting by the SIMB President. The SIMB will reimburse the awardee for travel such as coach airfare, meeting registration, special activities, meals and annual meeting hotel expenses. Qualifications As evidenced by their CV and current list of publications, recipients should have made outstanding research contributions in industrial microbiology and/or biotechnology. While activities such as journal editing, organizing and chairing conferences, and serving scientific societies in official capacities may also be considered when judging their contributions towards research, the most important and overriding factor in selecting nominees for this Award is research accomplishments. Other The nomination must be made by at least two researchers, one of whom is a current member of SIMB and submitted to the Awards and Honors Committee (Committee). Both researchers may sign the same letter, describing how the nominee has demonstrated their research excellence. The letter should cite at least three pertinent original journal references that support the purported excellence in a given research areas. The letter should also contain the names of two established researchers who are familiar with the work cited and have agreed to serve as references. Early Career Award (formerly the Young Investigator Award) Early Career Award Nomination Form (PDF) Deadline: April 15, 2022 Presented at the SIMB Annual Meeting Background This award aims to encourage young investigators to continue their research and to recognize and support their efforts at the beginning of their career. Qualifications The recipient must have received their PhD or the equivalent terminal degree within the past 10 years and be a current member of SIMB. Their degree must be in Microbiology, Biology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, or a related discipline, employed in academia, government or private industry and they MUST have demonstrated outstanding scientific contributions in the field of biotechnology and or industrial microbiology. Other The award nomination must be made by two scientists/engineers, both of whom are current members of SIMB and are well acquainted with the nominee. Supporting documentation should include letters from each nominator outlining the reasons why the nominee deserves the award.. The nomination packet should describe in detail the nominee’s contributions to the field of biotechnology and/or industrial microbiology, and including a current CV. The nomination package should be submitted to the Awards and Honors Committee (Committee). The award consists of an appropriately inscribed plaque that is presented to the awardee by the SIMB President at the Annual Meeting. The awardee’s travel such as coach airfare, annual meeting registration, special activities, meals and annual meeting hotel expenses will be reimbursed by the SIMB. Fellowship Status Fellowship Status Nomination Form (PDF) Deadline: April 15, 2022 Presented at the SIMB Annual Meeting Background Fellowship status is a special grade of SIMB membership, acknowledging a long career and a sustained record of significant research and/or service contributions to the profession of industrial microbiology and/or biotechnology. Individuals granted Fellowship status receive a congratulatory communication from the President of the SIMB, a plaque of recognition as a SIMB Fellow, presented at the Annual Meeting and complimentary registration if attending the Annual meeting. Other Any current member of the SIMB may, at any time, nominate another current member for consideration of Fellowship status. The nomination is submitted in writing to the chair of the Awards and Honors Committee (Committee) and must be supported by two cosponsors, at least one of whom is also a member of SIMB. The nomination must be accompanied by a letter from the nominating person stating the recipient’s record of significant research, as well as a copy of the recipient’s current CV. In addition, a short letter should be provided from the cosponsors confirming their nomination. This nomination package should be sent to the Awards and Honors Committee. Waksman Outstanding Teaching Award Waksman Award Nomination Form (PDF) Deadline: April 15, 2022 Presented at the SIMB Annual Meeting Background Noble Laureate Dr. Selman Waksman was an outstanding teacher of microbiology at Rutgers University, who maintained very cordial and effective relations with industry throughout his career as an academic scientist. This award is made in recognition of the important role that educators play in sustaining the fields of industrial microbiology and biotechnology. The award consists of $2,000 to reimburse the awardee for travel such as coach airfare, meeting registration, special activities, meals and annual meeting hotel expenses as well as an appropriately inscribed plaque which will be presented by the SIMB President at the Annual Meeting. Qualifications The recipient shall have been an active full time professor in the field of industrial or applied microbiology or biotechnology and bioengineering at a recognized institution(s) of higher education for a minimum of 10 years and involved in teaching undergraduate and/or graduate students. Emeritus faculty are eligible. They must have been actively involved in research in their respective field while carrying a teaching load. As evidenced by their CV and current list of publications, the recipient must have made contributions to research that have led to advances in their area of industrial or applied microbiology or biotechnology. Other The nomination must be supported by 1) recent CV; 2) three recommendation letters, at least two of which are from former undergraduate or graduate students or postdoctoral fellows who have careers of their own in microbiology or biotechnology. The letters MUST describe how the nominee has demonstrated an excellence and dedication in teaching microbiology and/or biotechnology, an excellence and dedication to mentoring, and an excellence and dedication to research. The awardee will be asked to write a review article on teaching experiences for publication in the SIMB News. Carol D. Litchfield Best Student Oral Presentation Award Attention academic advisors! Encourage your students to enter the Best Student Oral Presentation Contest at the SIMB Annual Meeting. The student will indicate, during online abstract submission, whether they would like to be considered for oral presentation at the Student Oral Presentations Session. The oral presentations will be selected based on the submitted abstracts by the convener(s) of the oral presentation session and judged by special members of the Awards and Honors committee at the annual meeting. The winner receives a certificate and $500 to help cover travel to the meeting. Carol D. Litchfield Best Student Poster Presentation Awards Attention academic advisors! Encourage your students to enter the poster presentation contest at the SIMB Annual Meeting. The student will indicate, during online abstract submission, whether they would like to be considered for poster presentation awards and in what core area. Five Best Poster Presentation Awards will be given, one in each of the Society’s core areas (Biocatalysis, Environmental Microbiology, Fermentation and Cell Culture, Metabolic Engineering, and Natural Products). Posters will be judged onsite by special members of the Awards and Honors Committee at the annual meeting. Each winner receives a certificate and $500 to help cover travel to the meeting. David Perlman Award Download Award Nomination Form (PDF) Deadline: Passed This award will be presented at the Recent Advances in Fermentation Technology (RAFT®) meeting Initiated in 2015, the David Perlman Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the area of Industrial Fermentation, Process Development and/or Manufacturing. They should be visionaries, exhibit leadership qualities, and have pioneered efforts in industrial microbiology and/or biotechnology. While desirable, a strong publication or patent record is not to be used as the sole criteria for selection of the award winner since industrial “How To” publications are limited. For this award, “Excellence” should be defined, at least in part, as focused on the process and its commercial success. Also for the purpose of this award, Fermentation is broadly defined as “bioprocessing”, to include the use of cells (or enzymes and other subcellular entities and organelles) regardless of source, e.g. bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, mammalian, insect, etc., living or not, free or immobilized and “green technology” including retrofitting existing processes (organisms or enzymes) and de novo bioprocesses to achieve greater environmental sustainability. Please see the Award Information document for a complete description. Teacher Outreach Program Established to provide the opportunity for teachers to learn about ongoing research in the fields of industrial microbiology and biotechnology and the professional opportunities available to graduates in these areas allowing them to educate their students about possible career paths in this field. SIMB Industry Award for Discovery, Innovation and Development in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Deadline: Passed Download Nomination Form Presented at the SIMB Annual Meeting The SIMB Corporate Award recognizes: “Discovery, Innovation, and Development in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology” and, within that framework, recognizes talent, creativity and innovation, and corporate leadership, over time, that have resulted in successful products that impact our world providing benefit to society. Any active full or emeritus SIMB member can, with the concurrence of two other members, submit a candidate for consideration (to be pre-qualified) by the Committee. Nominations must be submitted to the Chair of Awards and Honors Committee. Quick Links SBFC Awards Bioeconomy Leadership Award Deadline: February 28, 2022 Nomination Form Charles D. Scott Award Deadline: February 28, 2022 Nomination Form Raphael Katzen Award Not being awarded this year SBFC Diversity Award Deadline: February 28, 2022 Application Form SIMB Awards Charles Porter Award Deadline: April 15, 2022 Nomination Form Charles Thom Award Deadline: April 15, 2022 Nomination Form Early Career Award Deadline: April 15, 2022 Nomination Form Fellowship Status Deadline: April 15, 2022 Nomination Form Waksman Outstanding Teaching Award Deadline: April 15, 2022 Nomination Form Annual Diversity Award Deadline: March 1, 2022 Application Form RAFT® Awards David Perlman Award Deadline: passed RAFT® Diversity Award Deadline: August 19, 2022 Application Form Natural Products Discovery and Development Awards NP Diversity Award Deadline: October 14, 2022 Application Form Past Awardees Download PDF History of SIMB Strategic Plan SIMB Awards Board & Committee Members Constitution Bylaws SIMB Staff Donate facebook rss linkedin twitter Home Login Join SIMB Contact SIMB Privacy Statement Code of Conduct News and Updates Mailing List Store Membership Corporate Membership Meetings Publications Education Careers Resource Center About SIMB Donate SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook SIMB Blog LinkedIn Profile Twitter Copyright © 2019 Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 3929 Old Lee Highway Suite 92A Fairfax, VA 22030 t 703-691-3357 f 703-691-7991 LINKS Home Login Join SIMB Membership Corporate Membership Meetings Publications Education and Outreach Resource Center Careers About SIMB Contact SIMB Mailing List Code of Conduct Privacy Statement