The Division of Particles and Fields of the American Physical Society has established a new award to honor exceptional mentoring. The award will be bestowed yearly for mentoring, broadly construed.

This APS Unit Award is intended to recognize DPF members who have had an exceptional impact as mentors of particle physics scientists and students. This mentoring could be through teaching or research or science-related activities and is meant to recognize current achievements as well as those spanning a career.

Examples of contributions honored by this award include:

• Exceptional mentoring of early career particle physicists;
• Sustained commitment to mentoring early career particle physicists from traditionally under-represented backgrounds;
• A leadership role in developing early career research and career development activities.

The Division of Particles and Fields of the American Physical Society has established a new award to honor exceptional mentoring. The award will be bestowed yearly for mentoring, broadly construed.

Award Nomination Deadline: 1 March, 2020

The Division of Particles and Fields of the American Physical Society is pleased to announce that the Call for Nominations for the 2020 Mentoring Award is now open. This APS Unit Award is intended to recognize those who have had an exceptional impact as mentors of particle-physics scientists and students. This mentoring could be through teaching or research or science-related activities and is meant to recognize current achievements, as well as those spanning a career. Examples of contributions honored by this award include:

• exceptional mentoring of early career particle physicists;
• sustained commitment to mentoring early career particle physicists from traditionally under-represented backgrounds;
• a leadership role in developing early career research and career development activities.

Successful applications have included letters from students, post-docs, and faculty members.Early career particle physicists include undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and professionals early in their careers, such as assistant professors or assistant scientists. The award will consist of a certificate indicating the citation chosen by the selection committee, to be awarded at the next DPF Meeting. DPF will reimburse reasonable travel expenses for travel to the award ceremony.Nomination packets should consist of at least three but not more than four letters supporting the nomination, a cover letter, and a brief biographical sketch or CV of the candidate. It must also include a list of past and current mentees, as well as their contact information wherever possible. Some past mentees may be contacted during the review process. At least two of the letters should be submitted by individuals who have benefited from the mentoring experience. Nominations must be individual (no team nominations) and only one nomination per candidate will be accepted (no multiple nominations). There are no time limitations on contributions that can be recognized by this award. Nominations will be active and considered for three years. Nominations for the 2020 award will be accepted through Academic Jobs Online (AJO) through March 1, 2020 at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/15094

Click the "Nominate" link and you will be guided through the process. Nominators should submit the cover letter and a biographical sketch or CV along with names and email addresses of the letter-writers. Contact the Committee if you experience difficulties with the site or have questions.

2020 Award Committee:

Bonnie Fleming, Chair, Yale U.
Mirjam Cvetič, U. of Pennsylvania
Ken Heller, U. of Minnesota
Pearl Sandick, U. of Utah
Tim Tait, U of California, Irvine

APS Division of Particles and Fields Mentorship Award 2019

Awarded to Tim M.P. Tait, UC Irvine, for his successful and inclusive mentoring of many young particle physicists, including undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and junior faculty.

His tireless efforts as a mentor, role model, and supporter of diversity have left an indelible mark on the particle physics community.

Award Committee: Mirjam Cvetic (Chair), Bonnie Fleming, Karsten Heeger, Ken Heller, Pearl Sandick

Previous Recipients

2018 Bonnie Fleming, Yale University
“For her dedication to mentoring the next generation of experimentalists, providing opportunities and support for each to excel in their own way, tirelessly supporting diversity, developing new outreach initiatives, and showing by example how to be a physicist, colleague, and collaborator.”
Award Committee: James Alexander, Cornell (Chair), Mirjam Cvetic, U. Pennsylvania (Vice Chair), Karsten Heeger, Yale U., Robin Erbacher, U.C. Davis, Roni Harnik, Fermilab

2017 Thomas Devlin, Rutgers University
“For his tremendous dedication to a broad community of students and postdocs, and for his early and unwavering support of gender diversity in physics. His leadership by example, in studying new ideas, accepting all questions, and creating an inclusive environment where young scientists could bond with and learn from senior scientists and from each other has shaped the careers of many current leaders in experimental particle physics.”
Award Committee: Robin Erbacher (Chair), James Alexander (Vice Chair), Howie Haber, Louise Suter, Howard Georgi (previous recipient)

2016 - Howard Georgi, Harvard University
“For his unique dedication to mentoring and supporting a large and diverse community of students and post doctoral fellows, whose creative theoretical endeavors have had an enormous impact on particle physics as well as the larger scientific community.”
Award Committee: Laura Reina (Chair), Robin Erbacher (Vice Chair), Howie Haber, Louise Suter, Heidi Schellman (previous recipient)

2015 - Heidi Schellman
“For three decades of exceptional mentoring of students and colleagues throughout their careers, providing guidance regardless of affiliation, serving as a role model, and establishing a culture of service to others.”
Award Committee: Robert Bernstein (Chair), Laura Reina (Vice Chair), Benjamin Hooberman, Kendall Mahn, Sally Seidel