According to ASPB's bylaws, "The Society shall recognize meritorious research and service in plant biology by the presentation of awards to deserving individuals. Selection of individuals for awards shall be made by selection from the nominations submitted by the membership."

Member participation in this honors process is essential if the awards are to represent the judgment of the practitioners of the science.

It is important to have a substantial response to a request for nominations. The larger the group of nominees, the greater the value and meaningfulness of the ASPB awards program. Do not delay. By starting the nominating process now, meeting the deadline should pose no problem.

PLEASE NOTE: The nomination process has been streamlined. Letters of recommendation are no longer required for any awards except the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred International Graduate Student Fellowship Award. All that is required to make a nomination for all other awards is a 1-2 page letter of nomination and a detailed CV of the nominee. However, supporting letters are still allowed for the other awards and if provided must be submitted as part of the single pdf nomination file. In addition, nomination committees may go back to the nominator and ask for more information if they think it necessary.

Any ASPB member may serve as a nominator and may nominate individuals for more than one award. Making a nomination is a simple two-step procedure. As you prepare the nominating package, remember to:

• State the award for which the person is being nominated.
• Provide your name and e-mail address.
• Provide the nominee's name, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.

Assemble a nomination package that includes the following items:

• 1-2 page letter of nomination in which you state the nominee's qualifications for the award (contributions relevant to the objective of the award and significance of those contributions).
• A detailed curriculum vitae of the nominee that includes education, positions held, previous honors or awards, past service to ASPB and to the profession, and a publications list.
• Support letters, which are optional for all awards except the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred International Graduate Student Fellowship Award.

Submit the nomination package by Monday, February 18, 2013 (11:59 p.m. ET). All nominations must be submitted electronically. Please submit your nomination as a single pdf file.

The ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred International Graduate Student Fellowship is an investment in our nation's future scientists. The Fellowship encourages leadership skills and career development in students who have an interest in applying the study of plant biology to research topics related to important commodity crops including corn, soybeans, rice, wheat or canola. One $22,000 fellowship will be given annually from 2010 through 2013, with an additional $1,000 awarded for the recipient to attend the ASPB annual meeting in the year of their award.

Assemble a nomination package for the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred International Graduate Student Fellowship Award; packages must be prepared by the nominee's research supervisor. Nominees must attend a U.S.-accredited college or university, must have an excellent academic record (e.g., have achieved undergraduate and graduate GPAs of 3.5 or greater), must be Ph.D. candidates (i.e., have passed their preliminary examinations), and must be members of ASPB. Nominations packages, which must not exceed a total of 20 pages, must include:

• A letter of nomination from the nominee's research supervisor and two additional letters of recommendation. Each recommendation letter should address the student's competence in plant biology and associated occupational skills, including creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, leadership, and team-building skills.
• Copies of official undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• A brief description (no more than three single-spaced pages including references page), written by the nominee, of his/her research project including a brief statement of its goals, rationale, and justification.
• A short essay (no more than one single-spaced page), written by the nominee, explaining his/her interest in applying the study of plant biology to research topics related to important commodity crops including corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, or canola.
• A brief statement (no more than one single-spaced page), written by the nominee, of his/her long-range career goals and a description of how the ASPB-Pioneer Hi-Bred International Graduate Student Fellowship Award will help the nominee to attain those goals.
• The nominee's curriculum vitae, which should include educational background, relevant employment, memberships and affiliations, awards and honors, and community service.

Submit the nomination package by Monday, February 18, 2013 (11:59 p.m. ET). All nominations must be submitted electronically. Please submit your nomination as a single pdf file.