Honors & Awards

SMB Fellows

Election as an SMB Fellow is an honor bestowed upon members by their peers. Fellows are recognized for their meritorious efforts to advance skeletal muscle cell biology.

Award Applications Now Closed
Award Deadline: Forthcoming

Fellow nominees must have been a Full member of SMB for at least 10 of the 15 years leading up to the year of nomination, or an equivalency of time based upon grandfather criteria, and must be a member in good standing. Current Full and Emeritus SMB members may nominate up to two Fellows per year. Eligible SMB members may self-nominate. At least 1 letter writer (nominator or other support letter) must be a SMB member in good standing. The award recipient must be available to attend the annual SMB meeting. 

Submissions should include:

  • Letter describing the candidate’s background, contributions to and impact on skeletal muscle biology, and qualifications for Fellow that includes their service to SMB and demonstrated commitment to SMB’s mission, no longer than 2 pages.
  • Letter of support also describing the above, no longer than 2 pages.

New Fellows will receive a plaque, and be recognized during the SMB annual conference, and through the SMB Newsletter and website.

SMB Impact Award

The SMB Impact Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Society for Muscle Biology. This award recognizes an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the field of skeletal muscle biology. These contributions include groundbreaking scientific advances, the development of programs to support this emerging field, the mentoring and training of the next generation of scientists, and the advancement of diversity and inclusivity.

Award Applications Now Closed
Award Deadline: Forthcoming

The awards recipient and the nominator must be SMB members in good standing. The award recipient must be available to attend the annual SMB meeting.

Submissions should include:

  • A nomination letter, no more than 2 pages, that describes the nominee’s contributions in the following 4 categories:
    • Pioneering accomplishments in basic and/or translational research in cellular and molecular bioengineering 
    • Excellence in mentoring of students/trainees
    • Key leadership/role that has impacted the cellular and molecular bioengineering field (e.g. research center or consortia, educational programs, leadership in professional societies, etc). 
    • Demonstrated activity that has advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion.   
  • The nominee’s full CV
  • Three letters of support that specifically address the categories described in item No.1

The recipient will receive a commemorative plaque and a free registration to the SMB annual conference, where the recipient will be invited to deliver a lecture. They will also be recognized through the SMB Newsletter and website.

SMB Momentum Award

The Society for Muscle Biology (SMB) Momentum Award recognizes a SMB member who is at the mid-career stage and has made a substantial impact on their field that is related to skeletal muscle biology.

Award Applications Now Closed
Award Deadline: Forthcoming

The applicant and at least 1 letter writer (nominator or other support letter) must be a SMB member in good standing. Eligible candidates must be a SMB member for at least 1 year and are typically within 20 years of their PhD degree. An academic nominee will hold associate professor status (at minimum), reflecting peer recognition of their established, independent research career. A non-academic nominee will hold the industry equivalent level of status, consistent with substantial contributions in practice, mentorship, service, and/or leadership in industry. The award recipient must be available to attend the annual SMB meeting. 

Submissions should include:

  • A nomination letter, less than 2 pages, that describes the nominee’s contributions in the following 3 categories:
    • Outstanding original research & development in the field of skeletal muscle biology
    • Achievements in education or industrial practice, service, mentorship, and leadership.
    • Demonstrated activity that has advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • The nominee’s full CV (less than 5 pages, noting the nominee’s doctoral degree date)
  • Two letters of support that specifically address the categories described in first item. Note: Letters should not be from the nominator.

The recipient will receive a commemorative plaque and a free registration to the SMB annual conference, where the recipient will be invited to deliver a lecture. They will also be recognized through the SMB Newsletter and website.

SMB Rising Force Award

To sustain its multidisciplinary scope and core scientific mission, the Society for Muscle Biology places strong emphasis on cultivating new investigators in the field. In pursuit of this goal, the “Rising Force” award recognizes an outstanding junior principal investigator each year.

Award Applications Now Closed
Award Deadline: Forthcoming

The applicant must be a SMB member in good standing. Eligible candidates must have had an independent lab for less than 6 years at the time of submission (typically Assistant Professor, or equivalent, rank). The award recipient must be available to attend the annual SMB meeting. 

Submissions should include:

  • A research abstract containing a title, author names, author affiliations, and text that is no more than one page in length. The inclusion of a figure demonstrating key results in the abstract is encouraged.
  • A CV (5-pages maximum) that includes dates of when the applicant started their independent research career and when they expect to go up for promotion, that highlights their research accomplishments and previous contributions to the SMB and broader communities. 

The recipient will receive a commemorative plaque and a travel award to the SMB annual conference, where the recipient will be invited to deliver a lecture. They will also be recognized through the SMB Newsletter and website.

SMB Emerging Scientist Award

To foster the next generation of skeletal muscle biologists, the Society for Muscle Biology recognizes Junior researchers whose research is forging new paths of inquiry.

Award Applications Now Closed
Award Deadline: Forthcoming

Eligible candidates are enrolled in a graduate program at a recognized college or university, an MD resident who is actively pursuing research interests in skeletal muscle biology, or are an early-career professional working in the field of skeletal muscle biology who are within five years of completing their terminal degree (BS, MS, PhD, MD, or equivalent) and do not hold a faculty position, academic staff role, or group leader appointment. The award recipient must be available to attend the annual SMB meeting.

Submissions should include:

  • A research abstract containing a title, author names, author affiliations, and text that is no more than one page in length.
  • A CV (5-pages maximum) that includes start and end (if applicable) dates (month and year) for each degree, educational program, or job listed.

Recipients will receive a certificate, and a travel award for the SMB annual conference, where the recipient will be invited to deliver a lecture. They will also be recognized through the SMB Newsletter and website.

SMB Poster Awards

To foster the next generation of skeletal muscle biologists, the Society for Muscle Biology recognizes Junior researchers with demonstrated potential for research.

Award Applications Now Closed
Award Deadline: Forthcoming

Eligible candidates are enrolled in a graduate program at a recognized college or university, an MD resident who is actively pursuing research interests in skeletal muscle biology, or an early-career professional working in the field of skeletal muscle biology who are within five years of completing their terminal degree (BS, MS, PhD, MD, or equivalent) and do not hold a faculty position, academic staff role, or group leader appointment. The award recipient must be in attendance and presenting a poster at the annual SMB meeting.

Poster awardees will receive a certificate, and be recognized during the SMB annual conference, and through the SMB Newsletter and website.