How to Enter the Michelson Philanthropies & Science Prize for Immunology
The Michelson Philanthropies & Science Prize for Immunology focuses on transformative research in human immunology, with trans-disease applications to accelerate vaccine and immunotherapeutic discovery. This international prize is intended to encourage and support young investigators from a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, protein engineering, nanotechnology, genomics, parasitology and tropical medicine, neurodegenerative diseases, and gene editing, who apply their expertise to perform research that has a lasting impact on vaccine and immunotherapy.
Grand Prize money: US$30,000
Runner Up Prize money: US$10,000
All federal, state and local taxes, and any other costs and expenses, associated with the receipt or use of the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner.
Rules of Eligibility:
· Applicants must be no older than thirty-five (35) years of age and must hold an M.D., PhD., or M.D./Ph.D. at the time of entry.
· The entrant’s essay must describe contributions to human immunology research based in their field of study. Text generated from AI, machine learning, or similar algorithmic tools cannot be used to generate or edit the submission nor its accompanying figures, images, or graphics, without explicit permission from the Scienceeditors. Furthermore, prior to publication of the winning entries, winners will be required to sign Science’s License to Publish, wherein the entrant must warrant that they have followed this requirement.
· While the research may be part of a larger team effort, for the purposes of this Prize, an eligible entrant must be a single individual and the essay must focus on their contribution.
· The entrant must have performed or directed the work described in the essay.
· The research must have been performed during the previous 3 years.
· Employees of Michelson Philantropies, its subsidiaries, Science and AAAS, and their relatives are not eligible for the prize.
Procedures for Entry
The entrant must submit the following items:
· A completed Entry Form.
· An essay, written by the entrant, that describes their research and places it in perspective with respect to current research in the field of human immunology with trans-disease applications to accelerate vaccine and immunotherapy discovery. The essay must not exceed 1,000 words in length. The applicant must have done or directed all of the work and it must have been performed in the past 3 years.
· While the research may be part of a larger team effort, for the purposes of this Prize, an eligible entrant must be a single individual and the essay must focus on their contribution.
· A one-page letter of recommendation from his or her postdoctoral adviser, supervisor, or other senior colleague who is familiar with the entrant’s work.
· A Curriculum Vitae that includes the following:
1. Full citations of papers that the entrant has published on the research described in the essay
2. Academic and professional awards and honors that the entrant has received; and
3. Relevant professional experience
· Copies of two of the entrant’s papers that are most relevant to the essay.
· The Entry Form and additional submission materials must be submitted electronically through our prize management system.
You will be contacted only if additional materials or information are needed.
Deadline for Entries: 1 October 2023
Judging Procedures
The essays will be rated in two areas: scientific quality and significance, and clarity and style of the writing. Science editors will screen the essays. A committee of scientists chaired by a Science Senior Editor, Deputy Editor, Editor or Editor in Chief, will select winners from the finalists and will be decided by December/January annually.
For questions and inquiries, contact michelsonprize@aaas.org