2025 MRS Spring Meeting
Application Deadline: 11/20/2024 11:59 PM (EST)
Print Guidelines


MRS Graduate Student Awards are intended to honor and encourage graduate students whose academic achievements and current materials research display a high level of excellence and distinction. The MRS seeks to recognize students of exceptional ability who show promise for significant future achievement in materials research and education.
Procedure
Graduate Student Award Applications are accepted from graduate students who authored or co-authored a submitted abstract for the current MRS meeting. Applications that include abstracts which are ultimately accepted for the MRS meeting (both in-person and virtual participation) are reviewed by the Graduate Student Award Subcommittee and symposium organizers for the selection of finalists. The finalists are further evaluated by a panel of judges to determine the Gold and Silver awardees. Finalists will be asked to present their research (at an MRS Meeting, in-person or virtual) with the format yet TBD and will be informed at the time finalists are notified. The finalists will be evaluated primarily on their oral presentation, and also on their application materials.

Unfortunately, GSA applications cannot be accepted for those submitting a Breaking News Abstract as that timeline for submission occurs too late in the GSA review process. In order to apply, you must have submitted an abstract to the FIRST abstract submission date of an MRS Meeting.
Awards
All finalists will receive a one-year MRS student membership. During the week of the competition, all finalists are chosen to receive either Gold or Silver Awards, based on their presentations. GSA recipients will be announced in the MRS Bulletin and on the MRS Web site.

Gold Awards: $400 and a certificate of accomplishment and pin
Silver Awards: $200 and a certificate of accomplishment and pin

Arthur Nowick Graduate Student Award
The Arthur Nowick Graduate Student Award honors the late Dr. Arthur Nowick and his lifelong commitment to teaching and mentoring students in materials science. The award will be presented to a GSA finalist who shows particular promise as a future teacher and mentor. Please note that this is optional, and students who wish to be considered for this award should indicate so per the Submission Guidelines on the next page.
Arthur Nowick Award: $500 and a trophy.
Rules & Eligibility
The applicant must be:
  • an author or co-author of an abstract submitted for oral or poster presentation during the upcoming MRS meeting specified on the current application
  • in good standing in a recognized academic graduate degree program*

*Applicants must be current students.  Exceptions are made for individuals who have completed their graduate studies and successfully defended their doctoral dissertation,  or who have received their final graduate degree, during the four months prior to the MRS meeting provided they are presenting research that was performed as part of their graduate studies.  Individuals who have received their final graduate degree (according to actual the date on the diploma) more than four months in advance of the upcoming MRS meeting are not eligible to apply.

Previous MRS Gold Award recipients are ineligible.
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