Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists Young Investigator Award (JSPP Young Investigator Award)

Nominations Are Now Open for the 2024 JSPP Young Investigator Award

The JSPP Young Investigator Award is awarded to no more than five candidates selected by the JSPP Awards Committee from among those who are either are self-recommended or recommended by a JSSP member. Research achievements relative to research experience period will be taken into account. Young members with a short research experience or a discontinuity period due to life events are encouraged to apply. The selected candidate(s) shall then be approved by the JSPP Board of Directors before the award is given. Domestic and overseas members who fulfill the Young Investigator Award requirements shall be sought in accordance with the following award guidelines.

Young Investigator Award Guidelines

1. Candidate Eligibility

1. Candidates must have conducted outstanding research that contributes to progress in plant science and must be expected to have excellent potential for future growth.
2. Candidates must be a JSPP member under 45 years of age or with fewer than 23 years of research experience (including time enrolled in graduate school and excluding time for maternity and childcare leaves) as of April 1, 2024.
3. The research being considered for an award must have been conducted on applicant’s own initiative and a portion of the research must have been presented at a JSPP Annual Meeting or published in Plant and Cell Physiology.

2. Application Instructions

A. Self-nominations

Prepare the application documents listed below, combine them into a single PDF file, and send via e-mail to the JSPP office (). Applications must be received by September 20, 2023. The subject line of the email should read: "Young Investigator Award Application Materials (Self-Recommendation)". Application documents should be prepared on A4 size pages using a margin of 2 cm or greater.

1. Cover page: Use the title "Young Investigator Award Application Materials" and note the submission date, research topic, applicant's name, birth date and age, affiliated institution and current title, institution address, contact information (telephone and email address), highest level of education completed and degree earned, and research history. Describe special circumstances due to life events, if any.
2. Summary of research findings: Describe the findings on the basis of which you are applying for the award, clarifying how they are related to previously presented papers, in two pages or less (including the research title, 2,000 characters/600 words or less).
3. Summary of future research: in one page or less (1,000 characters/300 words or less).
4. List of presentations: (i) original papers (properly including author names, year of publication, article title, journal name, volume, page, etc), (ii) review articles, other (same as above), (iii) presentations given at the JSPP Annual Meeting or symposia that are relevant to the research being considered for the award (name of presenter, title, year, and location held). Number each item in the order of presentation date, and underline the name of the applicant.
5. Offprints or copies of major papers (up to five)

B. Nomination by a JSPP member

JSPP members can recommend award candidates. To recommend a candidate, email a recommendation letter as a single PDF file to the JSPP office () by August 9, 2023. The subject line of the email should read "JSPP Young Investigator Award Application Materials (Recommendation by Second Party)." Based on the letter of recommendation, the JSPP office will notify the candidate that they have been recommended. The recommendation letter should include (i) the name, title, and contact information of the recommended candidate, (ii) name, title, and contact information of the person making the recommendation, (iii) brief explanation for making your recommendation, and (iv) date of recommendation.