Research Mentor Award 

Issue Date: September 8, 2026
Nomination Due Date: November 9, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET
Award Selection Notification: By January 31, 2027
Amount of Award: $500 per recipient

The AASM Foundation is dedicated to advancing sleep science and fostering the next generation of sleep and circadian researchers. The AASM Foundation Research Mentor Award honors exemplary individuals for their efforts and leadership in developing early career researchers, including undergraduates, graduates, post-doctoral trainees, and junior faculty who develop research careers in sleep and circadian science. 

The Research Mentor Award provides $500 to each selected award recipient.

This AASM Foundation award is supported by AASM Foundation general funds.

The following individuals are eligible to self-nominate or be nominated:

  • Active sleep/circadian science mentor for at least 10 years, with a minimum rank of Associate Professor or equivalent, or responsibility for multiple funded research projects with evidence of sustainability. Examples include but are not limited to: Research Director, Senior Scientist, Professor, Department/Division Chair.

The following individuals are NOT eligible to self-nominate or be nominated:

The AASM Foundation Research Career Development Committee will evaluate and score all submitted nominations and recommend recipients to the AASM Foundation Executive Committee for approval. Factors that will be taken into consideration include:

  1. Intellectual Growth Mentee(s) and Broader Community: Has the mentor fostered intellectual development in mentees and contributed to broader field advancement through impactful programs or initiatives?
  2. Talent Development: Have mentees achieved notable career milestones attributable to the mentor’s guidance? Are outcomes consistent across diverse mentees?
  3. Collegiality and Community-Building through Generosity: Does the mentor promote inclusivity and uplift all individuals? Have they fostered collaboration and community in their field?
  4. Advocacy for Mentees: Has the mentor actively elevated mentees’ visibility and access to opportunities? Are there clear, lasting impacts from their advocacy?
  5. Sponsorship/Networking/Dissemination: Has the mentor connected mentees, especially from all groups, to key networks, recognition, or platforms that advanced their careers?
  6. Balancing Productivity with Career Advancement: Has the mentor supported mentees in prioritizing meaningful, career-enhancing work over less productive demands?
  7. Positive Role Modeling: Do mentees view the mentor as a professional and ethical role model? Have they adopted the mentor’s values or practices?

Frequently asked questions for our programs can be found here.

Individuals who have questions should contact us early in the nomination process. Eligibility questions may need to be reviewed by a member of the AASM Foundation Executive Committee, so please allow for at least a 1-week response time for eligibility questions. For all other inquiries, please allow a minimum of two business days for a response. Please note that questions received within 48 hours of a nomination deadline may not be answered before the deadline.