Young Researcher Prize

Alberta Prion Research Institute's
INTERNATIONAL YOUNG RESEARCHER PRIZE

To celebrate its fifth anniversary and promote work being done in prion science, the Alberta Prion Research Institute (APRI) is offering a significant $25,000 prize for a paper published by a junior researcher within the last five years. The prize winner will be the principal investigator of a project of original research in prion infectivity and/or prion-like protein misfolding propagation, which has been published in a paper in the peer-reviewed literature. The winning paper will be selected on the basis of having the most innovative findings and anticipated impact in the field of prion or prion-like protein misfolding science. 

Prize Eligibility

  • A nominee must have completed his/her terminal degree post-April 1, 2005.
  • The nominee must be identified as the first author if submitting a multi-authored paper.
  • Individuals who are currently in research training programs may be nominated.
  • The paper must describe original research on prions or misfolded proteins, or issues related to the medical, social or economic consequences of prions and/or other misfolded proteins.

  • The paper must have been published in a peer reviewed journal on or after April 1, 2005. Publications in peer-reviewed print and online media are eligible; however, review papers, commentaries, editorials and the like are not.

Prize

$25,000 CDN will be awarded to the principal investigator of the paper and used at her or his individual discretion.

Jury

The Alberta Prion Research Institute will appoint the members of the prize selection jury.  

Process and Requirements

APRI will accept nominations for the competition, with the following considerations:

  • Each nomination must be signed by three senior researchers in the prion field who are not authors of the paper being recommended.
  • The nomination must include a one-page rationale for why the paper is worthy of consideration for the award.
  • In addition, it must outline the nature of the contribution of the nominated author to the research that is described in the paper including certification that the author was the principal investigator of the study described in the paper.    

Nomination forms are available here.

APRI will also search the prion literature for potential papers for consideration. After preliminary screening by two senior experts, appropriate papers selected in this way may be presented to the jury.

Expectations of Prize-Winner

The prize-winner will be expected to give two scientific and two public talks in Alberta about her or his research on prions or protein misfolding and its medical or socio-economic implications. The cost of this activity will be borne by APRI. The presentation of the prize and the lectures must take place within six months of the announcement of the prize.

Deadline

Nominations for the prize must be received by APRI in electronic or hard copy by June 30, 2010. The prize-winning paper will be announced by September 15, 2010. Nominations can be addressed to:

Alberta Prion Research Institute
International Young Researcher Prize
Suite 2001 Scotia Place, Tower II
10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 3R8

Email: pearl.grabski@albertainnovates.ca

Downloads