NAPPN Awards Application Guidelines
Nominations for NAPPN 2027 awards are now open!
Nomination Guidelines
The Undergraduate Student award guidelines can be found here.
The Graduate Student award guidelines can be found here.
The Early Career award guidelines can be found here.
The Mid-Career award guidelines can be found here.
The Industry Award guidelines can be found here.
The Distinguished Career award guidelines can be found here.
The Excellence in Equity, Inclusion and Diversity award guideline can be found here.
The Resourcefulness in Innovation award guidelines can be found here.
Note: Nominees for any award must be active NAPPN members. If you are not already a member, learn more about joining here. NAPPN community involvement will be considered during evaluation.
The awards ceremony is held each year at the NAPPN Annual Conference.
DEADLINE: January 9, 2026
SUBMIT
COI Statement:
Nominators: Members who nominate somebody for a specific award and are also on the awards committee will not be able to evaluate or vote on that award.
Executive board members: Board members who are on the awards committee cannot vote in or evaluate award categories with other board members as nominees.
Close working relationships: Awards committee members cannot evaluate nominees with whom they have a close current working relationship.
The Undergraduate Student Award
The Undergraduate Student Award recognizes an undergraduate student making important contributions to plant phenotyping and NAPPN, regardless of degree discipline. We seek to highlight potential future leaders in plant phenotyping research, development, and/or its applications, consistent with NAPPN's mission.
Eligibility: The nominee must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program or have graduated within the last year (e.g., after January 1st, 2026, for the 2027 award).
Frequency: This award will be given annually.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less-than 99Mb)
☞ Nominations for candidates from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 2-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and nominee
Relationship of the nominator to the nominee
Up to two most relevant nominee's contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, or its applications. May include past and current activities.
Up to two nominee’s activities not listed above, which contribute to the mission of NAPPN
Nominee’s involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of Support
Each nomination should include 1-2 signed letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide reasons for envisioning the candidate as a future leader in the field of plant phenotyping.
May elaborate on the current or potential impact of the nominee’s contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, and/or its applications.
The Graduate Student Award
The Graduate Student Award recognizes a graduate student making important contributions to plant phenotyping and NAPPN, regardless of degree discipline. We seek to highlight potential future leaders in plant phenotyping research, development, and/or its applications, consistent with NAPPN's mission.
Eligibility The nominee must be currently enrolled in a graduate program or have graduated with a post graduate degree (e.g., M.S., M.Eng., or Ph.D.) within the last year (e.g., after January 1st, 2026, for the 2027 award).
Frequency: This award will be given annually.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less than 99Mb) ⚠️
☞ Nominations for candidates from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 2-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and nominee
Relationship of the nominator to the nominee
Up to three most relevant nominee's contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, or its applications. May include past and/or current activities.
Up to three nominee’s activities not listed above, which contribute to the mission of NAPPN
Nominee’s involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of Support
Each nomination should include 2-3 signed letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide testimonials of and/or elaborate on the impact of the nominee’s contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, and/or its applications.
May provide reasons for envisioning the candidate as a future or current leader in the field of plant phenotyping.
The Early Career Award
The Early Career Award recognizes an early career professional making important contributions to plant phenotyping and NAPPN, regardless of titles, areas of expertise or specialization. We seek to highlight leaders in plant phenotyping research, development, and/or its applications, consistent with NAPPN's mission.
Eligibility: The nominee must have obtained their Ph.D. within the last 10 years (e.g., after January 1st 2017 for the 2027 award). Pre-tenure contributions counted.
Frequency: This award will be given annually.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less than 99Mb) ⚠️
☞ Nominations for candidates from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 2-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and nominee
Relationship of the nominator to the nominee
Up to three most relevant nominee's contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, or its applications. May include past and/or current activities.
Up to three nominee’s activities not listed above, which contribute to the mission of NAPPN
Nominee’s involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of Support
Each nomination should include 2-3 signed letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide testimonials of and/or elaborate on the impact of the nominee’s contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, and/or its applications.
May provide reasons for envisioning the candidate as a future or current leader in the field of plant phenotyping.
The Mid-Career Award
The Mid-Career Award honors mid-career professionals who have contributed substantially to the field of plant phenotyping and to NAPPN, regardless of titles, areas of expertise or specialization. We seek to highlight individuals who support the advancement of plant phenotyping, and whose work is consistent with NAPPN's mission.
Eligibility: The nominee must have obtained their Ph.D. at least 10 years ago and up to 25 years ago (e.g., after January 1st, 2002, and before January 1st, 2017, for the 2027 award).
Frequency: This award will be given annually.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less than 99Mb) ⚠️
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 2-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and nominee
Relationship of the nominator to the nominee
Up to three most relevant nominee's contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, or its applications. May include past and/or current activities.
Up to three nominee’s activities not listed above, which contribute to the mission of NAPPN
Nominee’s involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of Support
Each nomination should include 2-3 signed letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide testimonials of and/or elaborate on the impact of the nominee’s contributions to plant phenotyping research, development, and/or its applications.
The Industry Award
The Industry Award recognizes a professional working in industry who is making important contributions to plant phenotyping in their industry, regardless of titles, areas of expertise or specialization. We seek to highlight industry professionals whose work is consistent with NAPPN's mission.
Frequency: This award will be given annually.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less than 99Mb) ⚠️
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 2-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and nominee
Relationship of the nominator to the nominee
Up to three nominee’s contributions to plant phenotyping in their industry
Up to three nominee’s activities not listed above, which contribute to the mission of NAPPN
Nominee’s involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of Support
Each nomination should include 2-3 signed letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide testimonials of and/or elaborate on the impact of the nominee’s contributions to plant phenotyping in their industry.
May provide reasons for envisioning the candidate as a future or current leader in plant phenotyping in their industry.
The Distinguished Career Award
The Distinguished Career Award honors professionals who have contributed substantially to the field of plant phenotyping. We seek to highlight distinguished individuals who have devoted many years of their careers to the advancement of plant phenotyping, and whose work is consistent with NAPPN's mission.
Eligibility: Nominees must have made significant contributions to the field of plant phenotyping through research, development, applications, teaching, service, or commercial efforts. Must have been in any phenotyping or related field professionally for at least 25 years since receiving their highest degree. Must be an active member of NAPPN.
Frequency: This award will be given when enough quality nominations are received, nominations will be carried over to the following year.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less than 99Mb) ⚠️
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 2-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and nominee
Relationship of the nominator to the nominee
Up to three nominee’s substantial contributions to the field of plant phenotyping
Up to three nominee’s activities not listed above, which contribute to the mission of NAPPN
Nominees’ involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of support
Each nomination should include 2 signed letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide testimonials and/or elaborate on the impact of the nominee’s contributions to the field of plant phenotyping, to the mission of NAPPN, or to the NAPPN community.
The Excellence in Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Award
The Excellence inEquity, Inclusion and Diversity Award recognizes an NAPPN member who has contributed significantly and over a sustained period to advancing EID values in plant phenotyping and/or within the NAPPN community.
Frequency: This award will be given when enough quality nominations are received, nominations will be carried over to the following year.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less than 99Mb) ⚠️
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 2-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and nominee
Relationship of the nominator to the nominee
Describe how the nominee has or is enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusivity in plant phenotyping or within the NAPPN community.
Nominee’s involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of support
Each nomination should include 2-3 letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide testimonials of and/or elaborate on the impact of the nominee’s contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusivity in plant phenotyping or within the NAPPN community.
The Resourcefulness in Innovation Award
The Resourcefulness in Innovation Award recognizes NAPPN members who have showcased resourcefulness when innovating in plant phenotyping. We seek to highlight innovators who have made their innovations accessible to the plant phenotyping community, through open-source sharing, low-cost products, freedom to operate, and training. This award accepts nominations for up to 5 people. All nominees must have made very significant contributions to the same innovation.
Frequency: This award will be given when enough quality nominations are received, nominations will be carried over to the following year.
CRITERIA
Developed an innovation that improves quality, lowers costs, or increases throughput when phenotyping plants.
Developed a workflow, data analysis, or data management method that improved accuracy, structure, or sensitivity of plant phenotyping data.
Initiated working groups or communities that enable collaboration, novel technologies, or sharing of resources in the field of plant phenotyping.
Reimagined application of existing resources through ingenuity and creativity to save cost and/or increase the scope of plant phenotyping.
Developed an innovation in plant phenotyping which is either open source or low-cost if patented.
NOMINATION PACKAGE: (Submitted as a single PDF file, less than 99Mb) ⚠️
Nomination Letter
(minimum requirements listed below, 3-page limit, minimum 12-point font)
Contact information of nominator and all nominees
Relationship of the nominator to the nominees
Describe the innovation and how it benefits or has benefited the plant phenotyping community.
Describe how the innovation is made available to the plant phenotyping community.
Describe how the nominees were resourceful when developing their innovation.
Nominees’ involvement with and/or service to NAPPN
Letters of support
Each nomination may include up to 2 signed letters of support, 1-2 pages each.
Each letter should include the author's email address and telephone number.
May provide testimonials and/or elaborate on the current or potential future impact of the innovation to the plant phenotyping community.
Post-award expectations
Notifications will occur in late January or early February. Award recipients will be recognized at the NAPPN Community Session with a trophy at the NAPPN Annual Meeting and will be asked to present at the following NAPPN Annual Meeting. Travel, lodging, and registration to the following meeting will be covered by NAPPN. After being notified of award selection, the award recipient should submit the following for use at the NAPPN Annual Meeting, for press releases and announcements.
Professional sketch: 200-300 words about institutional affiliation and scope of previous and ongoing research (suitable for use in announcements)
Digital image of Awardee: A non-copyrighted, high-resolution digital image of the nominee in a common image format (e.g., jpg, tiff, png), to be published in our website. It can be a professional posed image or an action photo showing the awardee in their work with the awardee clearly visible.
Submit Nomination
Please fill and submit the form below.
After you have submitted the form you will need to send the nomination package (single PDF) to nappnet@gmail.com
If acknowledgment of receipt is not received, please Email: nappnet@gmail.com
Selection team:
The NAPPN awards committee, representing diverse aspects of plant phenotyping, will score applicants.
In the event of a tie, the current NAPPN Chair may cast a tie-breaking vote.