Dr. Norman Salem Jr. Early Career Award

The Dr. Norman Salem Jr. Early Career Award is intended to honor an investigator at an early stage of his or her career, and who has published significant research papers in the field of lipids and fatty acids. The prize (US $4,500 + registration to the awarding ISSFAL meeting) will be awarded every 2 years during the biennial congress. The first such award was made at the congress in Kansas City in 2008 and will be available at all subsequent ISSFAL Biennial Meetings.

Eligibility Requirements for Nomination

  • Nominees must have obtained their first professional post-graduate degree within the past 10 years, or 13 years with an allowed career break (up to 3 years for maternity/paternity or health issues).
  • Nominees should have made significant contributions to the field, demonstrated by being the first author of patents or high-impact scientific journal publications related to lipids and fatty acids.
  • Nominees must be members in good standing with ISSFAL.
  • Candidates not selected in one year may be considered in subsequent years if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

Nomination Process

  • Call for Nominations: Following each biennial congress, a call for nominations will be issued by the ISSFAL Secretary no later than December 1st of the year preceding the award, to be published on the ISSFAL website and other communication channels.
  • Submission Requirements:
    • A primary letter of nomination.
    • Two supporting letters from different individuals.
    • The nominee’s resume, including the date of their highest degree, a summary of research and its significance, a complete list of publications, degrees held, and professional positions.
    • Each member of the Society, except members of the Nominations and Awards Committee, can nominate one candidate.
  • Submission Deadline: All nomination materials must be submitted to the ISSFAL Secretary by December 31st at [email protected]. 
  • Review Process: By January 15th, the Secretary will forward all complete nominations to the Nominations and Awards Committee.

Award Selection

  • The Nominations and Awards Committee will verify the eligibility of nominees and rank them based on the significance and focus of their research, particularly its relevance to lipids and fatty acids (lowest number is best).
  • The Chair of the Committee will average the scores. The nominee with the lowest average score will be selected. The Chair of the Committee will notify the Secretary of the winner.
  • In the case of a tie, the candidate with the lowest score after excluding the highest and lowest marks will win.
  • If no suitable candidates are found, the award will not be given.
  • Nominators of the top two unselected candidates will also be notified and given the opportunity to be reconsidered for future nominations.

Award Details

  • Prize: The award includes US $4,500 and registration to the Congress where the award will be presented.
  • Notification: The winner will be notified by the President and must confirm their acceptance and ability to meet the award requirements.
  • Announcement: The awardee will be announced in the ISSFAL Newsletter and on the ISSFAL website.

Past Recipients

In 2023 in Nantes, France, Dr. Jaqueline Gould from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in Australia was the recipient of the Early Career Award.

In 2018 in Las Vegas, United States of America, Dr. Mogjan Masoodi, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Switzerland for her work related to new and innovative approaches for nutritional intervention that could improve lipid metabolism and potentially prevent the onset of many common diseases associated with dyslipidemia and unresolved inflammation.

In 2016, in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Professor Kuan-pin Su, China Medical University was presented with this prestigious award.

In 2014, in Stockholm, Dr. Alexander Bartelt was the recipient of the Early Career Award. Dr. Bartlelt is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, USA.

In 2012, in Vancouver, Dr. S. Raza Shaikh was the recipient of the Early Career Award.  Dr. Shaikh presented, N-3 Fatty Acids and Membrane Microdomains: From Model Membranes to Lymphocyte Function

In 2010 in Maastricht, Dr. John Paul SanGiovanni from the Clinical Trials Branch of the U.S. National Eye Institute, Bethesda, United States of America was the recipient of the Early Career Award.

The first winner of the ISSFAL Early Career Award was Dr Richard Bazinet, from the University if Toronto, Canada. He was presented with his award at the 2008 Congress of the Society held at Kansas City,USA in May 2008.