Annual Awards

Award Categories

• National Award of Excellence for Best Poster by a Young Investigator will be presented during the annual conference to an early career scientist or graduate student for an outstanding poster for research in the field of Hispanic drug abuse. Posters submitted for consideration will be judged by a subcommittee of the Early Career Leadership Committee based on evaluation criteria such as: title, background/objectives, methods/approaches, results, conclusions/public health implications, and effective communication.

• National Award of Excellence in Research by a Student will be presented to a graduate student for outstanding research and/or publication in drug abuse. The nomination letter should describe the nominee’s area of research and its significance in the field.

• National Award of Excellence in Research by a New Investigator will be presented to a new investigator for outstanding research and/or publication in the field of Hispanic drug abuse. The candidate must be a postdoctoral fellow, an Instructor, or an Assistant Professor. The nomination letter should describe the nominee’s area of research contributions, discuss the nominee’s promise as a researcher, and present evidence of current grant and/or publication activity.

• National Award of Excellence in Research by a Senior Investigator will be presented to an investigator for an outstanding track record of scientific contribution and publication in the field of drug abuse. The nomination letter should specify how the candidate’s record demonstrates continued and consistent contributions to the field of drug abuse that are culturally innovative, demonstrate some of the unique aspects of drug abuse among Hispanics, and/or have impacted the larger field of drug abuse research.

• National Award of Excellence in Blending Research and Practice will be presented to a new or senior investigator for an outstanding publication in the area of blending research and practice in drug abuse prevention or treatment. The nomination letter should describe the candidate's publication and its significance to the field of blending research and practice.

• National Award of Excellence in Mentorship will be presented to a senior investigator who has provided outstanding mentorship in the area of Hispanic drug abuse to graduate students and/or new investigators, resulting in peer-reviewed publications or successful grant applications. The nomination letter should refer to the Hispanic scientists who the nominee has mentored (i.e., worked with or written grants and publications with).

• National Award of Excellence in Service by a Community Organization/Agency will be presented to an organization or agency that has made significant efforts in promoting culturally relevant and evidence-based clinical services on Hispanic drug abuse. The nomination letter should describe the organization’s/agency's activities and impact in the above areas. The nominated organization/agency should provide a 2- to 5-page description of its mission and services in the field of Hispanic drug abuse.

• National Award of Excellence in Public Service will be presented to an individual whose work in public service has promoted the development of Hispanic researchers in substance abuse and research on Hispanic drug abuse. The nomination letter should include a description of the nominee’s public service track work and how it has contributed to furthering the development of Hispanic researchers in substance abuse and research on Hispanic drug abuse.
• National Award of Excellence in Innovative Advances in Health Research will be presented to a researcher from an *underrepresented background displaying outstanding leadership and creativity in advancing basic research or clinical practice by developing a novel theoretical/experimental approach, methodology, instrumentation, or intervention. The nomination letters should address how the nominees' creative and novel work has transformed our understanding of health disparities and/or drug abuse in biomedical, social science, and/or behavioral research fields within the past 5 years. Specifically, the focus of the nomination letter should be on a specific innovative contribution, and not the nominee's career trajectory or accomplishments. *Underrepresented could include racial and ethnic minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and individuals that are first college graduates in their family.