The SPER Mentoring Award recognizes the importance of dedicated and skilled mentors in the development of reproductive, pediatric, and perinatal epidemiologists at all levels. The nominees will be evaluated based on proficiency in mentoring skills, dedication to mentoring, and attention to advisee development technically, professionally, and personally in the field. Nominees should demonstrate effective people skills, motivate and inspire their mentees to excel, and should serve as a role model, teaching and demonstrating high standards of performance and integrity. There is an important distinction between academic standing and mentoring accomplishments. This award is intended to highlight individuals as mentors only, and mentoring accomplishments will be evaluated taking into account the candidate’s career stage.
Individuals with an established career from academia, government, or the private sector are eligible. Candidates should be at the Associate Professor rank or above if in academia or at an equivalent senior rank in government agencies or industry. Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered. The winner is also expected to have an active Society membership at the time of meeting registration.
To be considered for the award, the following documents must be submitted in a single PDF file named as the nominee’s last name with “mentor” appended at the beginning (i.e., mentor_lastname):
- Cover page from the nominating SPER member including the following information: name of the nominee, nominee’s current university/agency affiliation, nominee’s address, phone, email address, name of the nominator, nominator’s email address and phone number. Confirmation of award eligibility as Associate Professor rank or above if in academia or at an equivalent senior rank in government agencies or the private sector.
- Letters of support from no more than 2 persons mentored by the nominated individual that address the evaluation criteria. Letters can be co-authored.
- Copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae
The winner of the Mentoring Award will receive a $500 award and the SPER Meeting registration fee waived.
Evaluation criteria (to be scored by award reviewers in equal weight):
(1) Evidence of mentees’ success
(2) Contributions to the field of reproductive, perinatal, or pediatric epidemiology as a mentor (including involvement through SPER)
(3) Attention to mentee professional development in the field
(4) Dedication to mentoring
(5) Lasting impact on mentee