Award Description: The ASIP Cotran Early Career Investigator Award recognizes early career investigators who direct independent experimental pathology research programs that are focused on improvement of the understanding of the conceptual basis of disease. The award is named in honor of Dr. Ramzi Cotran and was originally established through an unrestricted educational grant from Elsevier. This award is conferred on an early career investigator who is conducting experimental pathology research of a meritorious and impactful nature. The Meritorious Awards Committee will consider the nominees’ meritorious experimental pathology research, as well as other characteristics associated with outstanding young investigators, including teaching/mentoring, leadership, and engagement in the activities of the Society. The ASIP Cotran Early Career Investigator awardee is recognized each year at the ASIP Annual Meeting, where the selected awardee delivers an Award Lecture.
Award Eligibility: Eligible candidates for the ASIP Cotran Early Career Investigator Award must be an active ASIP member in continuous good standing for at least two years immediately prior to nomination. The typical nominee for the ASIP Cotran Early Career Investigator Award will hold the position of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) in either the non-tenure or tenure track, but will not yet have achieved tenure (for those with academic positions). Eligible candidates should be independent investigators with an active research program. Nominees should have sustained and significant contributions to the Society (through leadership and/or participation in Society activities/programs).
Scoring Rubric: ASIP Cotran Early Career Investigator Award nomination packages will be scored based upon: (1) published record of peer-reviewed research and overall impact of the nominee’s science, (2) contributions to pathology education/teaching conducted at the nominee’s institution and/or through national/international forums, (3) mentorship of young scientists, (4) leadership in the field of pathology (including departmental/institutional leadership), (5) contributions to the ASIP, and (6) strength of letters of support.
IMPORTANT: Nomination award applications submitted for consideration for the ASIP Cotran Early Career Investigator Award MUST include:
1. The nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV), including a complete bibliography of published research and details of all research funding (intramural and/or extramural). The nominee’s CV should include clear descriptions of contributions to research, teaching, mentorship, leadership (including institutional leadership), and contributions to the ASIP. The nominee’s CV should be updated in subsequent years if the nomination is renewed.
2. Letter of support* from the nominee’s Department Chair (or equivalent supervisor) that attests to (i) the position held and academic rank (or equivalent) of the nominee, (ii) the status of the nominee as an independent research investigator, (iii) general information related to research resources held by the nominee (laboratory space, equipment, and other resources), and (iv) research support for the nominee’s research (intramural and/or extramural).
3. Two letters of support.* Letters of support should address each element considered for the award, including meritorious experimental pathology research, as well as teaching, mentoring, leadership, and engagement in the activities of the ASIP. Letters of support should be updated in subsequent years if the nomination is renewed.
*Of the three letters required for nomination, at least two should be from current ASIP members.