Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars Recognition Program
Forecasted
Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars Recognition Program honors chemical sciences graduate students and postdocs for leadership in mentoring, inclusion, safety, outreach, and advocacy, not project funding.
Funder: American Chemical Society
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027 (Nomination submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: Recognition certificates and ACS website acknowledgment; not project funding
Summary: Recognizes chemical sciences graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for leadership in mentoring, inclusion, safety, outreach, and advocacy.
Key Information: Departments submit nominations; self-nominations are not allowed, and each individual may receive recognition in only one category annually.
Description
The American Chemical Society (ACS) recognizes current graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the chemical sciences for exemplary leadership and contributions to their communities. Graduate programs and departments with postdoctoral appointments select nominees whose work strengthens mentoring, inclusion and belonging, research safety, public engagement, or science advocacy. The program provides formal acknowledgment by recipients’ universities, organizations, and ACS rather than support for research projects.
Recognition covers contributions beyond research achievement alone: supporting other researchers, addressing institutional inequities, improving safety culture, sharing chemistry with the public, and using scientific expertise to inform evidence-based decisions. Research safety includes computational and theoretical chemistry as well as wet-laboratory environments. Science outreach and engagement and science advocacy were introduced as new categories for the 2026 cycle.
