SMBE is now calling for nominations for recipients of the Faculty Awards for Early-Career Excellence, Mid-Career Excellence, Lifetime Contribution, and Community Service. Please consider nominating those of your colleagues you believe deserve to be rewarded for their extraordinary achievements and dedication to the field.

Nominations require:

• a nomination letter, which should clearly indicate the award under consideration and also serve as a recommendation letter
• a one-page summary of the nominee’s qualifications for the award
• a CV of the nominee
• an additional letter of recommendation.

Self-nomination is not allowed. The nominator need not be an SMBE member, but the nominee must be a member of SMBE to be considered for the award.

Please compile the required documents above as a single PDF and upload via the online award application portal before February 20, 2026.

Submit Nomination HERE

Updated descriptions of the awards follow; please read them carefully.

SMBE Early-Career Excellence Award
This award is intended for outstanding members of the SMBE community who are in the early stages of an independent research career (3-7 years post-Ph.D.). The primary signal of research excellence is a trajectory of innovative, creative research that is moving the field of Molecular Biology and Evolution forward. The ideal candidate will be one whose career embodies the values of the society, for example in mentoring, outreach, and teaching. The prize includes recognition at the annual SMBE banquet, a cash prize of $1000 and a travel award ($2000 for intracontinental travel/$3000 for intercontinental travel) to attend the annual meeting. This award will be given annually.

SMBE Mid-Career Excellence Award
This award is intended for outstanding members of the SMBE community who are in the midst of their research careers (8-15 years post-Ph.D.). The primary criterion is a record of outstanding research that has contributed broadly to the field of Molecular Biology and Evolution. The ideal candidate will be one whose career embodies the values of the society, for example in mentoring, outreach, and teaching. The prize includes recognition at the annual SMBE banquet, a cash prize of $1000 and a travel award ($2000 for intracontinental travel/$3000 for intercontinental travel) to attend the annual meeting. This award will be given annually.

SMBE Lifetime Contribution Award
This award is intended for outstanding senior members of the SMBE community (25 years post-Ph.D.). The primary criterion is a record of truly outstanding research that has contributed broadly to the field of Molecular Biology and Evolution. The ideal candidate will be one whose career embodies the values of the society, for example in mentoring, outreach, and teaching. The prize includes recognition at the annual SMBE banquet, a cash prize of $1000 and a travel award ($2000 for intracontinental travel/$3000 for intercontinental travel) to attend the annual meeting. This award will be given periodically and initiated by the SMBE council.

SMBE Community Service Award
This award will be awarded to members of SMBE who have provided exceptional service to SMBE and the broader scientific community. The term "service" applies broadly to include specific service to the community (such as to the SMBE journals, the Council or annual meetings) and also service that includes scientific outreach and education. The prize includes an award of $2000 as well as reimbursement to attend the annual meeting. This award will be given periodically and initiated by the SMBE council.

Questions? Please contact smbe@am.kwglobal.com

Best Regards,
Ziheng Yang
SMBE Past President