[American Chemical Society](https://www.acs.org)

May 31, 2026 (Nomination submission deadline)

No monetary award; honorees receive formal recognition and a certificate.

Recognizes graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in chemistry for outstanding leadership in mentoring, inclusion, or research safety.

--- ## Description The American Chemical Society (ACS) Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars Recognition Program honors current graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the chemical sciences who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in one of three areas: mentoring, fostering inclusion and belonging, or promoting research safety. The program is designed to formally recognize individuals whose contributions have had a positive impact on their academic or research communities. Honorees are highlighted by ACS and receive official recognition certificates. --- ## Due Dates - May 31, 2026: Nomination submission deadline The nomination period for the 2026 cycle opens on March 2, 2026. --- ## Funding Amount - This is a recognition program; there is no monetary award. - Recipients receive an official certificate and are featured on the ACS website. --- ## Eligibility - Nominee must be a current graduate student or postdoctoral scholar in the chemical sciences at the time of submission. - Nominees may be recognized in only one category per year. - Departments may nominate up to one graduate student and one postdoctoral scholar per category each year. - Departments are not required to submit nominations in all three categories. - Self-nominations are not permitted; nominations must be submitted by the department or academic institution. - The program is open to departments in the chemical sciences globally. --- ## Application Process 1. Departments in the chemical sciences select and nominate individuals for one or more of the three recognition categories: - Leadership in Mentoring - Leadership in the Promotion of Inclusion and Belonging - Leadership in the Promotion of Research Safety 2. The nomination must include the department's selection criteria and evidence-based documentation (e.g., recommendation letters, evaluation rubrics, or other supporting materials). 3. ACS reviews the submissions and notifies departments of approved nominations. 4. Certificates are emailed to departments for distribution to honorees. 5. Honorees and their institutional affiliations are listed on the ACS website. An optional sample rubric is available to assist departments in evaluating candidates: [Download the Sample Rubric (DOCX)](https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/funding/awards/graduate-student-post-doc-recognition-program/recognition-program-rubric-2025.docx) --- ## Additional Information - Recognition is for leadership in mentoring, inclusion and belonging, or research safety, broadly defined to include a range of activities and impacts. - ACS may request additional information from recognized individuals. - Departments can develop their own nomination criteria or use the ACS-provided sample rubric. - Past recipients and their institutions are highlighted on the [ACS website](https://www.acs.org/funding/awards/graduate-student-and-postdoctoral-scholars-recognition-program/past-recipients.html). --- ## External Links - [ACS Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars Recognition Program (official page)](https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding/awards/graduate-student-and-postdoctoral-scholars-recognition-program.html) - [Nomination portal (opens March 2, 2026)](https://americanchemical.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8uiQcjuNE4bqf4i) - [Sample Nomination Rubric (DOCX)](https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/funding/awards/graduate-student-post-doc-recognition-program/recognition-program-rubric-2025.docx) - [Past Recipients](https://www.acs.org/funding/awards/graduate-student-and-postdoctoral-scholars-recognition-program/past-recipients.html) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | |------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------| | ACS Recognition Program| [graded@acs.org](mailto:graded@acs.org) | +1 800-227-5558 | | Program Contact | [j_yu@acs.org](mailto:j_yu@acs.org) | | For general inquiries, visit the [ACS Contact Page](https://www.acs.org/contact.html).

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars Recognition Program

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