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MRS Fellow

Purpose

MRS seeks to recognize as MRS Fellow outstanding members whose sustained and distinguished contributions to the advancement of materials research are internationally recognized. It is intended that by representing excellence in science and engineering and dedication to the advancement of materials research, the MRS Fellows will exemplify the highest ideals of accomplishment and service embodied in the MRS Mission.

MRS Fellow Program

• The number of new Fellows selected each year will be capped at 0.2% of the current total MRS membership.
• MRS Fellow is a lifetime honor. It is hoped that Fellows will choose to maintain their continuing membership in good standing.
• MRS Fellows may be invited to participate, from time to time, in special Fellows Receptions and in projects that call upon their advisory input on important issues of concern for the Society.
• The names of MRS Fellows will be listed on the MRS web site at www.mrs.org/mrsfellows. With the Fellow's permission, other information may also be included, such as photo, citation, brief biography, affiliation, and contact information.
• Each new MRS Fellow will be presented with a certificate of such recognition.
• In extraordinary circumstances, the honor may be withdrawn for cause.

Administration

Fellowship selection is managed by the MRS Fellow Subcommittee of the MRS Awards Committee. This Subcommittee is responsible for evaluating nominations annually and recommending the successful nominees to the MRS Board for final approval.

Rules and Eligibility

• Nomination is open to any MRS Member in good standing, whose membership has been continuous for at least 5 years preceding receipt of the nomination. In exceptional circumstances this requirement may be waived.
  
• Members of the MRS Fellow Subcommittee, the Chair of the Awards Committee, and the current MRS Officers and Board of Directors are not eligible for nomination.
  
• Each nomination submitted remains active for a period of 3 years without further action by the nominator. During that period, the nominator may submit an updated version. Alternatively, a new nomination package may be submitted, designated specifically to completely replace the old version. Such a new submission will remain active for three years, as any other new submission would do.
  
• Self-nomination is not permitted.
  
• No selections will be awarded posthumously.

Nominator Guidelines and Information

Many Different Types of Accomplishments are Eligible

There are many ways by which a person might make "sustained and distinguished contributions to the advancement of materials research," which is the fundamental criterion for attaining the title of MRS Fellow. Any or all types of accomplishment that have made significant contributions towards "the advancement of materials research", in its broadest sense, may appropriately be cited in the nomination. Success in the Fellow selection process will be based upon the aggregate impact of all the achievements that have been convincingly described and supported in the Nomination. "Advancement of materials research" may embrace not only the intellectual insights, scholarly publications, inventions, or applications resulting from the Nominee's materials research, but also the nurture and advancement of the institutions and programs that operate and support materials research, as well as the institutions and programs that support and strengthen the communities of people whose activities are linked with materials research and its consequences. "Materials research" and "materials communities" are here considered in their global context, although the specific impacts of the Nominee's cited achievements may be domestic or international, as appropriate.

For purposes of organization, the evaluation process will initially appraise the contents of each nomination in the broad categories of "Research" and "Support". Each of these categories represents an important possible type of qualifying contribution. However, a brilliant score in both categories is not mandatory, and ultimate success depends on the appraisal of the nominee's combined specific achievements of all kinds.

Examples of the kind of accomplishment that might contribute to the nominee's final score in each category include:

Research: basic and applied science research; product development; engineering research; technology development; management of research; inventions and patents; scholarly publications.

Support: materials education; public outreach; advocacy; leadership, involvement and support for the materials research community.  This category does include distinguished volunteer service to organizations such as MRS that are dedicated to supporting and advancing materials research; however, service to MRS is considered as just one example of such citable contributions and is not a specific requirement.

Nomination Package

The information provided in this nomination package will constitute the entire basis upon which the selection committee assesses the nominee. Personal knowledge of a candidate's accomplishments by one or more of the Subcommittee Members will not be a factor in determining the outcome of the nomination.

Since each submission package is strictly limited in size, it is important to select the information with care, and present it concisely.

The nomination must be written and submitted in English using the online submission site at http://fellows.mrs.org/. The submission site will accept nominations from July 1 through October 1.

A complete Nomination will include the following components:

Summary Citation:
This is a statement of 30 words or fewer, stating the area(s) of achievements on which the nomination is based.

Nomination Statement:
The Nomination Statement represents the essential substance of the Nomination Package. The Nomination Statement should describe the entire basis for the nomination. It should be informative, clear, concise and complete. It may include graphics, but they are not required. It should explain, in non-specialist terms, the nature and importance of the nominee's most significant accomplishments and activities. Specific, factual, and convincing information provided in this description will be the evidential basis upon which the nomination is evaluated. We emphasize that a nominee's celebrity status alone, without a self-sufficient and well-prepared Nomination Statement, will not succeed in the MRS Fellow selection process.

The following structure is suggested for the Nomination Statement:

• Brief Introduction
• First Topic: Description of one principal achievement or endeavor, placing it in context of both significance and success. It should concisely cite relevant, evidential support, such as key publications, related honors and awards, patents, professional appointments, related service/leadership/outreach/editorial activities, etc.
• Second Topic: Description of another principal achievement being cited.
• Third Topic, Fourth Topic, etc., if needed
• Brief Summary

This Nomination Statement file will be uploaded and must be a PDF or Word document, not exceeding 5 pages or 3MB.

Two Letters of Support:
Provide two letters of support, written by people other than the nominator, who are familiar with the nominee's work.
These letter files will be uploaded as two separate files and must be a PDF or Word document, not exceeding 5 pages or 3MB.

Curriculum Vitae:
The nominee's Curriculum Vitae is intended to serve only as a source of supplemental backup information, if required, for the selection committee to consult. This should be a CV that clearly supports the Nomination Statement, and that could also provide helpful background information. Inclusion of lists of relevant publications, patents, honors, and professional appointments is useful.

This CV file will be uploaded and must be a PDF or Word document not exceeding 8 pages or 3MB.

Membership History:
Please note that the nominee should be an MRS member in good standing at the date of nomination, and should have held membership continuously for the preceding 5-year period. The nominee's MRS membership records on file will be provided to the selection committee.

Submissions are accepted from July 1 through October 1 at http://fellows.mrs.org/.

Documents

• Materials Research Society Announces Inaugural Class of MRS Fellows
  Thirty-four individuals were recently honored for distinguished research accomplishments and contributions to the advancement of materials research. The title of MRS Fellow honors MRS members who are notable for their distinguished accomplishments and their outstanding contributions to the advancement of materials research, worldwide.
  (April 18, 2008)