Research Mentor Award
NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS!
| 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:
- Current AASM and AASM Foundation Board of Directors members
- Current AASM Foundation Research Career Development Committee members
- Individuals located in, or operating from, countries subject to U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions.
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:
- Mentee Career Outcomes & Independence: Have the mentor’s mentees achieved significant career milestones, professional success, or research independence that can be attributed to the mentor’s guidance? Are there clear examples of mentees obtaining awards, funding, promotions, leadership roles, or establishing independent research programs?
- Strategic Advocacy & Sponsorship: Has the mentor actively advocated for and sponsored mentees by creating opportunities, increasing their visibility, and facilitating professional advancement beyond the immediate research environment? Are there examples of introductions, nominations, speaking opportunities, or other actions that advanced mentees’ careers?
- Inclusive Leadership & Community Impact: Has the mentor fostered an inclusive and collaborative environment while making meaningful contributions that strengthen the broader sleep and circadian community? Have they demonstrated leadership in programs, initiatives, or activities that benefit individuals beyond their direct mentees?
- Individualized Intellectual Guidance: Has the mentor provided individualized intellectual guidance that fosters original thinking, scholarly growth, and the development of independent research trajectories? Are there examples of tailored mentorship that helped mentees pursue unique goals or develop identities distinct from the mentor’s own work?
- Ethical Leadership & Holistic Role Modeling: Does the mentor serve as an ethical and professional role model, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and practices that support long-term career success and personal well-being? Is there evidence that mentees have adopted the mentor’s values, approaches, or professional practices?
Step 1: AASM Foundation Online Portal registration
To submit a nomination for this award, you must register on the AASM Foundation Online Portal. Please refer to the AASM Foundation Application User Guide for guidance on creating an account.
Step 2: Complete the Nomination Form
ACCESS THE 2027 RESEARCH MENTOR AWARD NOMINATION FORM
Nominations must be completed and submitted through the AASM Foundation Online Portal. Instructions for required forms are available via the online submission system. For an overview of the information that is requested on the nomination form, please download the 2027 Research Mentor Award Nomination Form Outline.
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.