MRS Awards - MRS Medal

Nomination Information
Rules and Eligibility | Administration | Nomination Package Requirements
Procedure for Submission

Rules and Eligibility
Nomination for the MRS Medal is open to scientists and engineers who have, in recent years, been responsible for a major advance in any materials-related field of research. The impact of their materials research upon the relevant materials field will be a primary consideration in making the awards. The Medal may recognize such impact within a larger traditional field or in a more specialized or developing field. Preference will generally be given to nominations for work which has not previously received appropriate award recognition.

A nominee need not be a member of the Materials Research Society, and nominees of any nationality are eligible. Current members of the MRS Medal Subcommittee, MRS Board members and previous MRS Medal recipients are not eligible. The selection of the Medal winners must be approved by the MRS Board with recommendation from the Awards Committee; the decision of the Board is final. A Medal winner must receive his/her Medal in person at an MRS meeting within 12 months of selection; Medals will not be awarded in absentia except in extraordinary circumstances. A Medal will normally be awarded to one individual for a cited achievement. However, the Medal may be awarded for a cited achievement attributable to the collaboration of two or three individuals. In that case, each recipient will receive a personal medal trophy, registration, and travel, and the cash award will be divided equally.

Administration
The MRS Medal program is managed by the Medal Subcommittee of the MRS Awards Committee. That subcommittee is responsible for soliciting and evaluating nominations annually and recommending nominees to the MRS Board for final approval.

Nomination Package Requirements
The following is required for nomination for an MRS Medal:

Completed Nomination Summary Form
PDF Format | MS Word Format
A statement by the nominator supporting the candidate’s suitability for the award with particular reference to
- the specific, crisply defined, single recent research achievement which is proposed for recognition
- the impact of the achievement within the relevant materials field, and its effect on other sciences, and
- the innovative and perceptive quality of the candidate’s work
Supporting information and documents, e.g., curriculum vitae including a list of the candidate’s most relevant publications. Copies of up to three important papers relevant to the research achievement may also be included.
Two separate letters of support from two established scientists familiar with the nominee’s qualifications and area of research. Only two such letters will be accepted with each nomination. Each letter should make specific reference to the three criteria in item 2.
A list of supporting documents submitted. The entire nomination package, excluding reprints, must not exceed 10 pages.
Materials provided in paper form (if mailed) should be single-sided.

Procedure for Submission of Nominations

All materials comprising a nomination package, with the exception of support letters, which may be sent separately, should be sent COLLECTIVELY in a single packet by the nominator. Nominators should be careful to ensure legibility of documents. Nomination packages, updates and support letters for the MRS Medal must arrive by midnight Eastern time on June 1, by mail, fax, or email. Incomplete nominations will not be eligible. Nomination forms/materials received by email should be replications (PDFs). Letters of support must also be in PDF format on letterhead showing signature of supporter.

Mail completed nomination package to:

John B. Ballance, Executive Director
Materials Research Society
506 Keystone Drive
Warrendale, PA 15086 U.S.A.

Fax: 724-779-8313
Email: awardsprogram@mrs.org