Soil Physics and Hydrology Early Career Award

Application Instructions

To apply, submit the complete nomination containing (i) a nomination letter not to exceed two pages, (ii) supporting materials (see instructions below for format) that document the nominee’s qualifications, and (iii) three supporting letters not to exceed one page each. The deadline for receiving nomination is 1 June 2022. Nominations should be combined in a single PDF file. Please email nominations prior to the deadline to:

Dr. Zhuanfang (Fred) Zhang

Email: fzhang@intera.com
ECA Chair

The 2022 Early Career Award Committee:

Zhuanfang (Fred) Zhang (Chair)

Ryan D. Stewart

Behzad Ghanbarian

John Nieber (past SP&H Division Chair)

Qualifications

1. Completion of Ph.D. degree in Soil Physics or closely related program within six years of the award year.
2. Current member of the Soil Science Society of America.
3. Evidence of quality teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels if in a teaching position.
4. Evidence of effectiveness in extension and/or outreach activities.
5. Evidence of significant contribution of original basic and/or applied research in soil physics.
6. Contributions to the public, professional organizations, and institutions.

Nomination Materials

1. A nomination letter, not to exceed two pages, signed by the nominator that includes a narrative explaining why the nominee is qualified to receive the award.
2. Supporting materials in the following format that document qualifications:
   1. Title: Nomination of (nominee’s name) for the Soil Physics Early Career Award
   2. Nominee: Include name, complete mailing address, phone number, and email address.
   3. Impact Statement: A short statement (up to 300 words) describing how the candidate has positively impacted the Soil Physics and Hydrology discipline.
   4. Professional Experience (position title, dates held, institution).
   5. Education: Degree received, date awarded, institution, major professor. If a one-year eligibility extension is being requested, the reason(s) for that extension should be included here.
   6. Qualifications: Each nominee should specify the % of total contributions that should be considered for each category. The listed percentages should reflect the level of effort and success that the nominee has achieved in each category. The nominee can put 0% for one or more categories, so long as the total equals 100%.
      1. 1. 1. Teaching Contributions (% of total contributions)
               1. Courses taught
               2. Advising activities (undergraduate and graduate students)
               3. Evidence of teaching effectiveness (awards, evaluations)
               4. Other (teaching grants/proposals or education publications)
            2. Extension and Outreach Contributions (% of total contributions)

1. Extension activities
2. Outreach activities
3. Evidence of effectiveness (awards, recognition received)
4. Other (extension/outreach grants or proposals and publications)
   6. 1. 1. 3. Research Contributions (% of total contributions)
         2. Past accomplishments and impact
         3. Publications (list in citation form all publications by category, i.e. refereed, chapters, proceedings, …)
         4. Grants (proposals written and grants received)
         5. Awards or recognition received
         6. Other related research activities or accomplishments
   7. Contributions to the Public or Profession
      1. 1. Membership in professional societies
         2. Service to professional societies
         3. Service to institutions or government agencies
         4. Service to society or general public (community contributions)
5. Supporting letters. Include three supporting letters, not to exceed one page each, solicited by and sent to the nominator. Members of the Awards Committee are not eligible to write supporting letters. One copy of each letter must be attached to the nomination materials.

Nomination Process

Candidates are to be nominated by a current member of the Soil Science Society of America. Copies of nomination materials are to be sent to the Chair of the Early Career Award Committee. Materials will not be returned and unsuccessful nominations may be resubmitted the following year.

Evaluation and Selection Process

The Soil Physics and Hydrology Division Early Career Award Committee will consist of four members; three appointed from the Soil Physics and Hydrology Division membership and the previous Soil Physics and Hydrology Division Chair. Each appointed committee member will serve a three-year term, and will function as the Committee Chair in her/his third year of service. At the annual meetings, one new committee member will be appointed by the incoming Division Chair, in consultation with committee members. The outgoing Division Chair will automatically join the committee, along with the two continuing members and the newly appointed member. Those serving on the committee are not eligible for the award. Committee members will remove themselves from discussions and will not rank nominees with whom they have co-authored papers, served as their major professor (advisor), or served on their graduate committee (M.S. and/or Ph.D.).

The committee will evaluate nominations and submit their recommendation to the current Division Chair before the annual meeting. Evaluations will be based on 1) success in the categories listed in the Qualifications section, with categories weighted by individual according to percentage of activities devoted to each category, 2) service to the public and profession, and 3) the overall impact of the nominee on the Soil Physics and Hydrology discipline.

Nominations not adhering to the above format, including page limits, will not be considered eligible.

The award will be presented at the annual Soil Physics and Hydrology Division Business Meeting, and the award winner will be given the opportunity for an oral presentation during the annual meeting. Nominators should therefore strongly encourage the nominees to attend the SSSA meeting.