John Laughlin Early-Career Scientist Award
This award recognizes outstanding scientific achievement in medical physics for an early-career scientist member of AAPM.
Nomination Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for this award, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- The nominee will have fewer than 10 years of engagement in a medical physics career as of December 31 at the time of nomination. For the purpose of this award, post-doctoral positions will be considered as engagement in a medical physics career, as will research years as part of a residency.
- The nominee must have been a member of AAPM (Full, Associate-Student, or Associate) for at least 5 years, equivalent to 60 months, at the time of the nomination.
Nomination Process Overview:
Phase 1: Nomination Verification
- The nominator should access the system using their AAPM credentials and utilize the "Lookup Field" to identify a nominee meeting the eligibility criteria.
- The system will automatically cross-reference the AAPM membership database to verify eligibility. If the nominee meets the criteria, their information will pre-fill the necessary fields.
- If the proposed nominee is deemed ineligible, the nominator will receive a notification in the system, and the nomination process cannot proceed.
Phase 2: Nominee Acceptance/Rejection
- If the proposed nominee is eligible, an email is sent to the nominee, providing the option to accept or reject the nomination.
- Upon acceptance, you will receive an email from noreply@secure-platform.com with details on progressing to the next phase.
- If declined, the nominee is removed from consideration, and the nominator will be informed of the nominee’s decision to decline.
Phase 3: Nomination Finalization
- After the nominee accepts the nomination, the nominator will receive an email from noreply@secure-platform.com with instructions to go back into the nomination system.
- Complete the final steps of the nomination:
- Upload Nomination Letter (Required): Prepare the nomination letter and ensure it is ready in PDF file format. Upload it during this phase.
- Upload Nominee's CV (Required): Upload the nominee's CV during this phase.
- Supporting Letters (Optional): The nominator will be guided to add up to four individuals to support the nomination through formal letters. Support letters may be from AAPM members or non-members. The system will generate an email to the supporter(s) with instructions on uploading their letter.
Note for Phase 3: To enhance the efficiency of the process, it is recommended to have the nomination letter and nominee's CV ready in PDF file format before entering this phase of the nomination. This ensures a smooth and timely completion of the nomination process
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Award Frequency:
- This award is not required to be awarded every year. Nominations should be made when suitable candidates meeting the eligibility criteria are identified.
- Posthumous Nominations:
- Nominations will not be considered for individuals posthumously.
- Supporters' Access to CV:
- Supporters will not have direct access to the nominee's CV within the system. As the nominator, it is your responsibility to share the nominee's CV with any invited supporters.
- Notification of System Emails:
- Inform the nominee and supporters that all communication from the system will originate from the email address noreply@secure-platform.com. It's crucial that they are aware of this to avoid overlooking important notifications.
- Timely Responses:
- Encourage the nominee and supporters to respond to system emails promptly to ensure a smooth nomination process.
- Documentation Format:
- Confirm that all required documentation, including the nomination letter and CV, are in PDF file format before entering Phase 3 of the nomination. This helps streamline the process and prevents any delays.
- Final Decision:
- Applicants will be notified of decisions in the Spring of 2025. Recipients will be honored at the AAPM Awards and Honors Ceremony and Reception during the 67th Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Washington, DC, in 2025.
► For any inquiries about the functionality of the nomination system, please contact Nancy Vazquez, AAPM Programs Manager.
► For specific questions regarding eligibility criteria for any of the association awards, please contact Jerry White, Awards and Honors Committee Chair.