Biological Sciences Section Awards

Please choose an award name to view specific details and requirements.


Nathan Shock New Investigator Award

Nathan ShockThe Nathan Shock New Investigator Award is given annually for innovative and influential publications by an early career professional (Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level). Established in 1986 to honor Dr. Nathan Shock, a pioneer in gerontological research at the National Institutes of Health, and a founding member of The Gerontological Society of America, the award is designed to acknowledge outstanding contributions to new knowledge about aging through basic biological research. 

The recipient receives a $1500 cash award. 

Submission Period
Spring 2024

Eligibility Criteria

  • Nominees must have a PhD, MD, DDS, or equivalent degree and must be within seven years of their postdoctoral research.

Nomination Process

Required Nomination Packet Materials:

  • A current Curriculum Vitae.

Nature of Award
The recipient receives a $1500 cash award, a framed certificate, and will present a brief lecture at the Biological Sciences Section Business Meeting and Award Presentation at the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting.

Past Awardees
View here

Lectures

2021 Nathan Shock New Investigator Award Lecture- “Lifelong Sex-Dimorphism in Neutrophils” by Berenice A. Benayoun, PhD

2020 Nathan Shock New Investigator Award Lecture- “Proliferate Stress Driving Alterations in Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cells” by Isabel Beerman, PhD


George Sacher Student Award

sacher2

The George Sacher Student Award is given to the best student paper or poster contribution by a GSA member at the Society's Annual Scientific Meeting. George Sacher served as President of the Society in 1979. 

The award is designed to encourage research and to foster interest among students in the Biological Sciences section to play an active role in the Society's annual meetings. A paper or poster must be submitted prior to the deadline.

 

Submission Period

Summer 2024


Eligibility Criteria

  • Must be a Student or Transitional member (ESPO) of the society.
  • Must submit an abstract for the Annual Scientific Meeting.
    • The abstract must be accepted for the conference.
    • The student must present the work at the Annual Scientific Meeting.
    • Paper or poster must be submitted before the deadline.

Self Nomination Process

Required Nomination Packet Materials: 

  • Two copies of your paper (one blinded, one not)
  • Letter from student's advisor
  • Abstract control ID number 

Nature of Award
The recipient receives $500, a certitificate, and will be recognized at the Biological Sciences Section Business Meeting and section lunch at the Annual Scientific Meeting.

Past Awardees
View here

 

Austin Bloch Post-Doctoral Fellow Award

The Biological Sciences and Health Sciences sections are offering The Austin Bloch Postdoctoral Fellow Award to recognize an outstanding paper or poster contribution by a Postdoctoral Fellow in biomedical sciences. The Biological Sciences and Health Sciences Sections alternate annually in selecting the award from among their respective section's submissions. In order to be eligible for the award, the primary author's abstract must be submitted to the Biological Sciences Section and accepted for presentation at the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting. A paper or poster submission, based on the accepted abstract, should be submitted by the deadline. 

Submission Period

Summer 2024

Eligibility Criteria

  • Student or Transitonal members (ESPO) in the Biological Sciences Section are eligible to apply in years ending in an even number. 
  • Must be engaged in relevant research.
  • Must submit an abstract for the Annual Scientific Meeting.
    • The abstract must be accepted for the meeting.
    • The student must present the work at the Annual Scientific Meeting.
    • A 1,500 word paper, or a poster must be submitted by the deadline.

Self Nomination Process

Required Nomination Packet Materials: 

  • Two copies of your paper/poster (one blinded, one not)
  • Letter from the student's advisor
  • Abstract control ID number 

Nature of Award
The recipient receives $200, a certificate, and will be recognized at recognized at their respective Section Business Meeting and Award Presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting.

Past Awardees
View here

 

Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction

isw2The Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction is named in honor of the founder of the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) and is intended to honor exceptional contributions to basic or clinical research in the field of aging by members of the scientific community. This award is given by AFAR, however, the recipient of this award gives a lecture at GSA's Annual Scientific Meeting. 

For more information please visit the AFAR website:
http://www.afar.org

Past Recipient's Lectures 
2011 Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction Lecture: From Mice to Methuselah: What We Can Learn from the Comparative Biology of Aging

By Steven N. Austad, PhD



Vincent Cristofalo "Rising Star" Award in Aging Research

The late Vincent Cristofalo devoted his professional career equally to two pursuits: doing aging research, and encouraging younger scientists to investigate important problems in the biology of aging. Vince set an example of wise leadership, sophisticated judgment, and solid accomplishment that remain an inspiration to all who knew him. The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) established the Vincent Cristofalo "Rising Star" Award in Aging Research in his honor.

For more information please visit the AFAR website:
http://www.afar.org

 


Biological Sciences Minority Scholar Travel Awards

Minority Investigator Travel Awards for graduate students, post-docs, and early-stage faculty are available to support attendance at the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting by individuals from groups underrepresented in biomedical research. This year, the Biological Sciences Section will award up to 8 travel awards in the amount of $750 each for qualified attendees.

To be considered for the travel award, you must answer YES to the following question on the authors task of the abstract submission, “Is the author an individual from an underrepresented population in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social science as defined by the National Institutes of Health, Diversity in Extramural Programs”. Abstract submissions are due August 24, 2023.