• The nominee is required to be an active AGU member.
• The nominee must be a current M.S. or Ph.D. student or have completed the Ph.D. requirements (or the highest equivalent terminal degree) in the same year as the award is presented. Exceptions to this requirement for unusual circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the committee.
• The following individuals are not eligible to be candidates for the award during their terms of service:
  • AGU President;
  • AGU President-elect;
  • Council Leadership Team members;
  • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
  • Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior section leadership;
  • SEDI Award for Graduate Research Committee members; and
  • All full-time AGU staff.

• Nominators are not required to hold an active AGU membership.
• The following individuals are not eligible to be nominators for the award during their terms of service:
  • AGU President;
  • AGU President-elect;
  • Council Leadership Team members;
  • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
  • Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior section leadership
  • SEDI Award for Graduate Research Committee members; and
  • All full-time AGU staff.

• Individuals who write letters of support for the nominee are not required to be active AGU members.
• The following individuals are not eligible to be supporters for the award during their terms of service:
  • AGU President;
  • AGU President-elect;
  • Council Leadership Team members;
  • Honors and Recognition Committee members;
  • Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior section leadership
  • SEDI Award for Graduate Research Committee members; and
  • All full-time AGU staff.

The following relationships need to be identified and communicated to the award committee but will not disqualify individuals from participating in the nomination or committee review process. These apply to committee members, nominators, and supporters:

• Current dean, departmental chair, supervisor, supervisee, laboratory director, an individual with whom one has a current business or financial relationship (e.g., business partner, employer, employee);
• Research collaborator or co-author within the last three years; and/or
• An individual working at the same institution or having accepted a position at the same institution.

Individuals with the following relationships are disqualified from participating in the award nomination process as a nominator or supporter:

• Family member, spouse, or partner.
• A previous graduate (Master’s or Ph.D.) and/or postdoctoral advisor, or postdoctoral fellow may not write a nomination letter but may write a supporting letter after five years of terminating their relationship with the nominee beginning on 1 January after the year the relationship was terminated.
• A former doctoral or graduate student, or a former postdoctoral fellow may not write a nomination letter for a former advisor but may write a supporting letter after five years of terminating their relationship with the nominee beginning on 1 January after the year the relationship was terminated.