Call for Nominations: The 2027 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award

Do you know a talented young atomic spectroscopist whose research is already shaping the future of the field? Spectroscopy is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award, and we encourage colleagues, mentors, collaborators, department chairs, and industry supervisors to nominate deserving candidates.

The Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award recognizes the achievements and aspirations of a talented young atomic spectroscopist who has made strides early in their career toward the advancement of atomic spectroscopy techniques and applications.

Who Is Eligible

The award will be given to a researcher who has focused the majority of their work in the field of analytical atomic spectroscopy, with direct contributions to:

• Inorganic mass spectrometry (MS)
• Optical emission spectroscopy (OES)
• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
• Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS)
• X-ray techniques

Contributions must come through original research on the development or advancement of theory, instrumentation, measurement techniques, or applications.

Early-career requirement: The winner must be within 10 years of receiving their PhD in the year the award is granted. For the 2027 award, this means the nominee should have earned their PhD in 2017 or later.

Nominees may work in academia, government, or industry. Evidence of impact may include papers in peer-reviewed journals, issued patents or patent applications, commercial products, and technical reports written for an industrial community.

How the Winner Is Selected

The winner is chosen by an independent scientific committee. Information about past winners of the Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award can be found at www.spectroscopyonline.com.

Submission Deadline

Nominations for the 2027 award must be received by December 10, 2026.

How to Submit a Nomination

To nominate a candidate, e-mail the following materials to JWorkman@MJHlifesciences.com. Please assemble all items before submitting so the committee receives a complete package.

(1) Completed nomination form. Request the official nomination form by e-mailing JWorkman@MJHlifesciences.com. The form collects information about both the nominator and the candidate (detailed below).

(2) Letter of support. Include one seconding letter from a member of the atomic spectroscopy community. This person must be different from the nominator. The nominator may also provide an additional letter of support if desired.

(3) CV or resume. Provide the candidate’s current CV or resume as a Word or PDF file.

(4) Photo. Include a high-resolution headshot of the nominee in .JPG format.

What the Nomination Form Asks For

To help you prepare, the nomination form requests the following information.

About the nominator

• Submitter’s name
• Submitter’s e-mail address
• Submitter’s phone number
• Relationship to the candidate

About the candidate

• Candidate’s full name, current job title, organization, and business address
• Year the PhD was earned and from where (degree, year, institution, and location). Candidates must be within 10 years of receiving their PhD in the year the award is granted.
• Area(s) of focus of their work
• A short summary, in 100–200 words, of the candidate’s achievements or contributions in the field of atomic spectroscopy
• The candidate’s five most important pieces of work (such as papers in peer-reviewed journals, issued patents or patent applications, trade secrets, trademarks, commercial products, technical reports written for an industrial community, or other), with a brief explanation of the significance of each
• Other key contributions to the field of atomic spectroscopy not captured above
• Number of publications and total citations
• Number of oral and poster presentations at scientific conferences
• Service provided to the scientific community, such as volunteer work in scientific societies, work as a journal reviewer, and so on
• Key awards and honors

Tips for a Strong Nomination

• Be specific about impact. For each of the five key works, explain what problem it solved, what it made possible, and who has adopted or built on it.
• Show trajectory. The award recognizes aspirations as well as achievements, so describe where the candidate’s research is heading and why it matters.
• Choose a knowledgeable seconder. The most persuasive letters of support come from community members who know the candidate’s work firsthand.
• Confirm eligibility early. Verify the PhD date before preparing the package to make sure the candidate qualifies for the 2027 award.
• Submit early. Allow time before the December 10 deadline to gather letters, the CV, and the headshot.

Questions and Nomination Forms

To request a nomination form or for further information about the award or the submission process, please contact JWorkman@MJHlifesciences.com.

We look forward to learning about the next generation of leaders in atomic spectroscopy, and we thank you in advance for helping us recognize their work.