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Nominees, nominators, and the author of one of the two letters of support must be members of the Biophysical Society in good standing.
No one may win any award twice.
All requirements for an award must be met at the time of nomination.
Self-nominations are accepted for all award categories except for Fellows and Doctoral Research Award.
Current Council members may not be nominated for any Society Award or the Fellows designation while serving. Awards Committee members may not be nominated for Society Awards while serving.
All nominees and award recipients will be guided by both the BPS Ethics Guidelines and the Awards and Fellows Revocation Policy.
Completed Award Nomination Application through the online portal. It requires names for the nominee, the nominator, and the writers of supporting letters. All documents must be in PDF format.
A single sentence (citation) that could be used in an award announcement describing why the nominee should be selected.
Nomination letter (no more than 4 pages) addressing all criteria and describing why the nominee should be selected for the specific award.
Two letters of support, at least one of which is from a current Society member.
A copy of the nominee's CV (no more than 5 pages); CVs over 5 pages will be rejected. A sample of an NIH-style biosketch and a blank template are available here.
For specific information and eligibility requirements, click on the individual award categories.
About: For sustained scientific excellence and contributions in the field of biophysics. This is an honorary title, designating the Society's distinguished members who have demonstrated sustained scientific excellence, complemented by their broader professional contributions to the general field of biophysics through their leadership, mentorship, public service, or other mechanisms. The title was established by BPS in 2000 to recognize annually a very select group of BPS members – approximately 0.1% of the membership – who consistently embody the BPS values through their research and broader contributions. Fellows are recognized at the Annual Meeting.
Eligibility:
Two letters of support, at least one of which is from a current Biophysical Society member.
A copy of the nominee's CV (no more than 5 pages); CVs over 5 pages will be rejected. A sample of an NIH-style biosketch and a blank template are available here .
A two-paragraph statement (600-word maximum) summarizing the achievements and contributions for which the nominee should be recognized.
A list of 10 important papers the nominee has published.
About: For outstanding contributions to the field of biophysics. The Founders Award recognizes a scientist for outstanding achievements in any area of biophysics. As the name indicates, the award often goes to a biophysicist whose contributions are adopted widely, sometimes even beyond the field of biophysics. The award was established by BPS in 1986. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For innovative advances in the understanding of biological systems. The Carolyn Cohen Innovation Award recognizes a BPS member who advanced our fundamental understanding of biological systems through the development of novel theory, models, concepts, techniques, or applications. The Innovation Award was established by BPS in 2019 and renamed the Carolyn Cohen Innovation Award in 2022 to honor her pioneering contributions to the study of large biomolecular structures and their biological roles. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For exceptional service in the field of biophysics. The Rosalba Kampman Distinguished Service Award recognizes a member whose service and contributions in the field of biophysics extend beyond achievements in research. The Distinguished Service Award was established by BPS in 1997 and renamed the Rosalba Kampman Distinguished Service Award in 2020 to honor its namesake who served with distinction as BPS’s Executive Officer from 1998 to 2018. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For significant contributions to biophysics education and mentoring. The Emily M. Gray Distinguished Educator Award honors significant contributions to education and mentoring in biophysics, demonstrated through a distinguished record of excellence in classroom instruction, mentoring scientists at any level, developing novel educational methods or materials, promoting scientific outreach efforts to the public or to youth, attracting new students to the field of biophysics, or fostering an environment exceptionally conducive to education in biophysics. The award was established by BPS in 1998 and is named to honor its namesake, who served with distinction as BPS’s Executive Officer from 1972 to 1996. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For excellence in research and mentoring at a primarily undergraduate institution. The Excellence in Undergraduate Education Award recognizes a faculty at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) for excellence in academic research and mentoring. The award was established by BPS in 2025. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For exceptional contributions by a person who has not yet achieved the rank of full professor or equivalent. The Michael and Kate Bárány Award recognizes an outstanding contribution to biophysics by a person who has not achieved a senior rank (of full professor or equivalent) at the time of nomination. This award was established by BPS as the Young Investigator Award in 1992 and renamed in 1998 in recognition of an endowment by Michael and Kate Bárány. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For noteworthy contributions to research and service in the first six years of their independent position. The Early Career Award recognizes a scientist with six or fewer years of service in an independent position at an academic institution, national research lab, or private research organization who has made noteworthy contributions in biophysics research and service during their independence. The award was established by BPS in 2025. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For a woman achieving prominence in scholarship and/or leadership at an early career stage. The Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award recognizes a woman in the early stages of a career in biophysics who is already recognized in the scientific community for her impactful publications, ideas, or leadership. This award was established by BPS in 1984 and honors the memory of Dr. Margaret Dayhoff, former President of the Biophysical Society, Professor of Biophysics at Georgetown University, and Director of Research at the National Biomedical Research Foundation. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
Include any personal hardship or other obstacle that has impeded advancing including, but not limited to, family responsibilities or disadvantaged background. Please include your estimate of the number of years of extension appropriate to the circumstances. The judging standards will be the same for all nominees, but the eligibility period may be extended by the agreement of the Awards Committee.
About: For excellence in research, writing, and service during doctoral training. The Doctoral Research Award recognizes two recipients of a PhD degree in biophysics, one each from a US and non-US institution. This award was established by BPS in 2025. Each award recipient receives an honorarium of $1,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website, and will have their essay published in Biophysical Journal.
Completed Award Nomination Application through the online portal. It requires names for the nominee and the nominator. All documents must be in PDF format.
An essay (1200 words maximum) written in English by the nominee explaining their thesis to a broad audience with scientific interest, with an optional secondary essay describing mentoring, service, and/or outreach (300 words maximum).
About: For outstanding contributions that advanced the field of lipids and membrane biophysics. This award was established by BPS in 1997 as the Avanti Award in Lipids. It was renamed the Agnes Pockels Award in Lipids and Membrane Biophysics in 2025 in honor of its namesake whose outstanding research was fundamental in establishing the discipline known as surface science. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For outstanding contributions that advanced the field of membrane protein biophysics. The Award in Membrane Protein Biophysics, designed to promote membrane protein studies and recognize excellence in the field, was established by the BPS in 2008 as the Anatrace Membrane Protein Award and was funded by Anatrace Inc. through 2026. It was renamed the Award in Membrane Protein Biophysics for the 2027 award cycle. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
A copy of the nominee's CV (no more than 5 pages); Any CVs over 5 pages will be rejected. A sample of an NIH-style biosketch and a blank template are available here.
About: For outstanding contributions that advanced the field of physical chemistry of macromolecules. The Ignacio "Nacho" Tinoco Award in Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules recognizes an investigator whose work is transformative within physical chemistry of macromolecules, especially nucleic acids. This award was established by BPS in 2019 to honor its namesake whose contributions to the spectroscopic, thermodynamic, structural, and single-molecule study of RNA are fundamental to the understanding of the physical principles of macromolecules. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For outstanding contributions that advanced the field of single-molecule biophysics. The Kazuhiko Kinosita Award in Single-Molecule Biophysics recognizes an outstanding researcher for exceptional contributions in the field of single-molecule biophysics. It encourages investigators to promote further developments in single-molecule biophysics, to engage in cross-disciplinary research, and to elevate the appreciation of single-molecule studies among scientists in general. This award was established by BPS in 2006 to honor its namesake, who helped to establish the field, and who performed many elegant experiments, including proving conclusively the rotation of individual molecules of the F1 ATPase (ATP synthase). The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
A copy of the nominee's CV (no more than 5 pages); CVs over 5 pages will be rejected. A sample of an abbreviated CV and a blank template are available here.
About: For outstanding contributions using biophysics to advance understanding of health and disease. The Award in the Biophysics of Health and Disease honors an investigator who has made a significant contribution to understanding the fundamental cause or pathogenesis of disease, or to enabling treatment or prevention. The award was established by BPS in 2020. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.
About: For outstanding contributions that advance the field of computational biophysics. The Klaus Schulten and Zaida Luthey-Schulten Award in Computational Biophysics recognizes a researcher for outstanding contributions in computational or theoretical, including analytical theory, and aspects of biophysical systems. This award was established by BPS in 2025 and honors its namesakes for their mathematical, theoretical, and technological innovations which led to key discoveries about the motion of individual proteins and nucleic acids, organelles, and whole cells. The award recipient receives an honorarium of $2,000, is recognized at the Annual Meeting, and is invited to record a 15–30-minute talk to be archived on the BPS website.