Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists: Official Rules

I. Description: The Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists (the “Prize”) begins on March 1, 2026, 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time and the period for entering the Contest ends on July 15, 2026,  11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (the “Entry Period”). By participating in the Prize, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Prize Rules and the decisions of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (“AAAS”) and its independent judging committees, which shall be final and binding in all respects. As outlined in more detail below, there will be a Grand Prize worth US$30,000.

II. Entry Fee: There is no entry fee.

III. Individual Eligibility:

1.      The entrant have been awarded their Ph.D. between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025. The research described in the entrant‘s thesis must fall within one of the following categories (Subject Tracks) and must have been performed while the entrant was a graduate student:

o   Cell and Molecular Biology: Research in this category includes cellular and molecular processes at levels ranging from single molecule to single cell to tissue and organ systems.

o   Genomics, Proteomics and Systems Biology approaches: Research in this category focuses on genomics, proteomics, integrative omics and systems biology approaches, including computational, to facilitate comprehensive understanding of living cells, organisms and species.

o   Ecology and Environment: Research in this category encompasses interactions between organisms and their environment, and how these processes are influenced by human activity.

o   Molecular Medicine: Research in this category aims at building on the molecular understanding of disease in humans to develop preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches, including individualized medicine.

2.      While the research may be part of a larger team effort, an eligible entrant must be a single individual, and the essay must focus on their contribution (the entrant must have actively performed or directed laboratory work described in the essay).

3.      An entrant may not win more than one Science Prize using the same essay or a similar essay on the same research.

4.      Essays on the same research cannot win more than one Science Prize regardless of who the entrant is.

5.      Past winners of a Science Prize cannot be eligible for another Science Prize until at least 5 years have passed since the award.

6.      For a full list of Science Prizes, https://www.science.org/content/page/prizes-and-awards.

7.      Employees of Science/AAAS, collaborators in the management or sponsorship of this prize and their relatives, as well as the following are not eligible to enter: 

o   Scientists who were Ph.D. students in the groups of any past or present member of the SciLifeLab management group (SciLifeLab Director, Co-Director, Infrastructure Director and Scientific Directors), the Integration Directors, or any member of the SciLifeLab Board.

IV. How to Enter:

The entrant must submit the following items:

1. A completed Entry Form.
2. An essay, written by the entrant, that describes the thesis work and its implications for research in the selected Subject Track. The essay must not exceed 1,000 words in length. The essay may include one summary figure or table and may have up to 15 references cited numerically in the text (not included in word count).

3.      A one-page reference letter from the entrant's advisor or a member of the entrant's thesis committee. The letter should include an assessment of the entrant and comment on the significance of the entrant’s research.

4.      The abstract of the thesis (not to exceed four double-spaced typed pages).

5.      A list of the following:

5. 1. Full citations of all published or in-press papers on the research described in the essay;
   2. Academic and professional awards and honors that the entrant has received;
   3. Relevant professional experience.
6. Copies of two of the entrant's papers that are most relevant to the essay.
7. The Entry Form and additional submission materials must be submitted electronically through our prize management system here.

V. Use of AI:  Text generated from AI, machine learning, or similar algorithmic tools cannot be used to generate the submission nor its accompanying figures, images, or graphics. Limited editing with tools such as Grammarly is acceptable but must be declared. During submission, entrants will be required to declare they have not used AI inconsistent with this requirement. Entrants are accountable for the accuracy of the entry and for ensuring that there is no plagiarism. They must also ensure that all sources are appropriately cited and should carefully review the work to guard against bias that may be introduced by AI. Editors may decline to consider an entry if AI is used inappropriately.

VI. Entry Deadline: As noted above, all entries must be received during the Entry Period to be eligible. AAAS is not responsible for late, lost, or misdirected entries that are not received in a timely manner, or are lost due to computer or electronic malfunction or other error, or due to inaccessibility of the Internet or portions thereof.

VII. Automated Entries Prohibited: No mechanically reproduced, incomplete, forged, software generated or automated multiple entries will be accepted.

VIII. Representations: By submitting any Entry to the Contest, entrants hereby represent and warrant that they (a) have the necessary rights to do so, and (b) are the author, creator, or producer of the Entry, and (c) have not used AI and machine learning or similar algorithmic tools to generate or edit the submission nor its accompanying figures, images, or graphics in any manner inconsistent with Section V above. Entrants further grant to AAAS and its affiliates, subsidiaries, licensees and assignees, the exclusive right to publish the winning entries in all formats.

IX. Privacy: Information provided to enter the Contest will not be sold to third parties but may be shared as may be necessary for the purposes of conducting and judging the Contest and awarding prizes. AAAS, its affiliates, and companies supplying prizes (or parts thereof) in connection with this Contest may from time to time contact entrants via email concerning the Contest, and each entrant consents to receiving such communications via email.

X. Winner Selection: Science editors will screen the essays and select three finalists from each Subject Track. A committee of scientists chaired by a Science journal editor will select a winner from each Subject Track and from those four entries, select the Grand Prize winner.  The essays will be judged on the clarity of the essay and the scientific quality and significance of the research.  Winners will be publicly announced and published in Science. 

XI. Prize Details:

The Grand Prize Winner Receives:
The Grand Prize winner will be awarded a cash prize of US$30,000 and will be provided travel and accommodation for the awards ceremony, if applicable.  They will also receive a 5-year digital subscription to Science and have their winning essay published in Science (in print and online).

Runner-up Receives:
The three (3) Runners-up will be awarded a cash prize of US$10,000 each.  Each Runner-up will be provided travel and accommodation for the awards ceremony, if applicable, and will have their winning essay published in Science online.  They will each also receive a 1-year digital subscription to Science.

XII. General Prize Conditions: Winners must sign the Science journal Exclusive License to Publish so that their essay may be published by Science. Prizes are not transferable and not assignable. Winners shall be solely responsible for all taxes and fees or costs associated with any prize, including but not limited to any federal or state or other income tax, ground transportation (except as expressly stated above), meals (except as expressly stated above), gratuities, personal expenses and any other expenses not expressly specified herein. International winners of the award shall solely be responsible for obtaining any passports or other travel documents that may be required.

XIII. Limitations of Liability AAAS assumes no liability, and shall not be liable, for typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of the Contest including, without limitation, errors in the printing or display of the offer and Official Rules, selection, notification and announcement of the Category Winners, or distribution of the prizes. AAAS is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by internet users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest and assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to any systems associated with the Contest. Winners expressly agree that AAAS shall have no liability whatsoever concerning or in any way related to their travel.

XIV. Release: Acceptance of a prize constitutes the prize winner’s permission for AAAS to use prize winner’s name and likeness for advertising and/or promotional purposes worldwide and in all forms of media in perpetuity without further compensation or authorization. Participants agree that AAAS and its affiliates, and their officers, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Sponsoring Entities”), shall not be responsible for any losses, damages or injuries of any kind resulting from participation in the Contest or from Participants’ acceptance, receipt, possession and/or use or misuse of any prize. Participants also agree that the Sponsoring Entities have not made and shall not in any manner be liable for any warranty, guarantee, or representation, whether express or implied, with respect to any prize, including without limitation, the prize’s quality or fitness for a particular purpose. AAAS reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or the Site, to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, or who otherwise takes actions that do or are intended to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest. AAAS also reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any entry containing any obscene, offensive or otherwise inappropriate comments or other material.

XV. Governing Law: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the District of Columbia without regard to the choice of law provisions thereof.