MGMS Silver Jubilee Prize

2006 marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Molecular Graphics and Modelling Society. MGMS aims to support younger researchers and students in the area of molecular modelling and graphics. To support postdoctoral and young independent researchers, and to recognise our Silver Jubilee, MGMS is establishing a MGMS Silver Jubilee Prize. This will be awarded annually to outstanding young researchers (up to the age of 35) in the field. We believe this MGMS Award will be prestigious and help the continued growth of molecular modelling. Nominations should be submitted to our Membership Secretary. The closing date for nominations is October 15th 2006. Details of eligibility etc. will be posted on the MGMS website (www.mgms.org). All aspects of contributions of candidates to the field of molecular modelling and related areas (including the development of methods, scientific hypotheses and insights, research presentations, patents, software and algorithms) will be considered by the Award Committee.

Purpose: The purpose of the MGMS Silver Jubilee Prize is to benefit the field of molecular modelling and its research community, and in particular to support young researchers in the field and to increase recognition of MGMS. There are currently very few prizes or awards for young molecular modellers, compared to many awards for more 'traditional' physical chemistry.

Eligibility: post-doctoral researchers (in academia or industry, with or without permanent positions) in molecular modelling, simulation and visualization, up to the age of 35. Nominees should be under the age of 36 in the year of the award (i.e. should be under the age of 36 before 1/1/07). In exceptional circumstances, exceptions due to career breaks may also be considered at the discretion of the Award Committee.

Prize: A Prize of £500 will be awarded annually at the discretion of MGMS (if applications of high enough quality are not received, MGMS may decide not to award a prize in any given year). The award winner will be invited to give an MGMS Silver Jubilee Prize Lecture (at a MGMS meeting, or other relevant conference, or at his/her institution), in the year following the award of the Prize. The lecture could be written up for consideration for publication in the Journal of the Society (the Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling).

Nominations: Candidates can be nominated by others or by themselves. An application should consist of:

1. A covering letter nominating the candidate

2. A two-page c.v. of the nominee.

3. A list of the nominee's publications and other research outputs (with the five most important indicated by asterisks: a very short (one short paragraph maximum for each piece of work) description of the importance of these five pieces of work should be given).

4. A one-page statement from the candidate of his/her achievements and the purposes of their research.

5. Supporting statements from two referees are also required: the nominator or the candidate should arrange for the referees' statements to be sent directly by the referees to the MGMS Membership Secretary.

Complete applications should be sent to the Membership Secretary of MGMS, and may be sent electronically.

Criteria: The Award Panel shall decide the Award based on their assessment of the contribution of the candidate to the field of molecular modelling, molecular simulation and molecular graphics (all relevant areas of molecular modelling and related fields including drug design and development); these include the impact of their work; and the potential of the candidate to make future such contributions. This judgement shall be based on published work (articles in refereed journals, books and other publications) and also on other contributions such as computer software, databases and associated technology of benefit to molecular modellers; other indicators of esteem in the research community (research seminars and conference presentations; other awards; participation in the activities of MGMS and other learned societies); activities in publicizing molecular modelling, in increasing public awareness and understanding of the field, and in related education; the recommendations of the Referees; and patents or other related research outputs in molecular modelling.