AVS Ohio invites early-career individuals across Ohio to submit to our Early Career Scholar Award, which will be awarded at the 2026 AVS Ohio Symposium and Poster Session. This award is open to all individuals who received their Ph.D. no later than 7 years ago (including postdoctoral scholars, assistant professors, and research scientists) and whose work encompasses research, engineering, or education in fields of interest to AVS. Professionals from nontraditional research and engineering backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. The awardee will receive a plaque at the symposium and be given an invited speaker position to discuss their work.
Professional Awards are judged based on the following criteria:
● Scientific impact to fields of interest to AVS, including contributions to education, training, management of science
● Collective quality of letters
● Professional service and contributions to the scientific and engineering community, especially the Ohio community.
Submission Instructions:
The applicants must have a one-page letter of recommendation from a supervisor or mentor detailing their qualifications for the award. Applications are due July 1st, 2026, by midnight, and must be emailed to AVSOhio@gmail.com. The winner will be announced via email on July 15th.
Letter of Recommendation Writer Requirements:
Letter writers should include the statement in their opening remarks, “I am writing on behalf of Applicant First and Last Name…”. Letters of recommendation should be no more than 1 page.
If you need any assistance with your application, please email AVSOhio@gmail.com
AVS Ohio is proud to announce the call for nominations for our inaugural Distinguished Industrial Scientist Award.
This honor recognizes outstanding scientists and engineers who have made significant impacts within industrial R&D. The award will be presented at the 2026 AVS Ohio Symposium and Poster Session.
Eligibility & Criteria
Open to industry professionals who earned their Ph.D. between 8 and 20 years ago.
Candidates should demonstrate excellence in research or engineering within the core AVS disciplines: Materials, Interfaces, and Processing.
Particular consideration will be given to candidates who have contributed to the advancement of science, mentorship, and leadership specifically within Ohio’s STEM community.
Recognition
The recipient will be honored with a commemorative plaque during the symposium, celebrating their dedication to industrial innovation and their role in strengthening our regional scientific network.
Nomination Instructions:
The candidate must have a one-page letter of recommendation from a supervisor or mentor detailing their qualifications for the award. Applications are due July 1st, 2026, by midnight, and must be emailed to AVSOhio@gmail.com. The winner will be notified via email on July 15th and publically announced at the 2026 AVS Ohio Symposium and Poster Session.
Letter of Recommendation Writer Requirements:
Letter writers should include the statement in their opening remarks, “I am writing on behalf of Applicant First and Last Name…”. Letters of recommendation should be no more than 1 page.
If you need any assistance with your application, please email AVSOhio@gmail.com
AVS Ohio is excited to recognize and celebrate the career of a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of science, mentorship, and leadership within Ohio's STEM community, particularly in areas aligned with the mission of AVS: Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing.
Students in all stages of their education are invited to submit posters detailing their research. Posters will be judged on scientific merit, research design, and the student's understanding of their work in the context of their field.
Certificates of excellence and cash prizes will be awarded to the best posters in the following categories:
1) Undergraduate students
2) Master's and pre-candidacy PhD students
3) PhD candidates
We encourage all our students to also participate in AVS National and submit their abstracts to the national conference. To support this goal, winners of the 2026 AVS Ohio Poster Session will also receive travel grants to the national conference, AVS72, being held November 8 - 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA. Abstracts for AVS72 are due May 18, 2026.