New! IEP Outstanding Mentorship Award - Call for Nominations
The Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) is pleased to announce a new Annual IEP Outstanding Mentorship Award (PDF). The award will be formally presented at each Annual IEP Workshop.
A Call for Nominations for the 2027 Annual Workshop is now open!
Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. on January 8, 2027.
Purpose of the Award
Excellence in research relies heavily on generations of dedicated formal and informal mentoring by IEP researchers and support staff. This annual award formally recognizes past and present IEP community members who invest significant effort into developing others—a vital contribution to the scientific community that is rarely captured by citation counts or project milestones.
Eligibility
Nominations are open to all past and present IEP contributors, including agency staff, contractors, and academic partners. Nominees may hold roles as supervisors, project leads, or informal peer mentors.
Note: Current members of the IEP community are limited to nominating one person per year.
Selection Criteria
Modeled on established frameworks from national research institutions, nominees should be individuals who:
- Motivate others and boost curiosity, passion, and performance.
- Create a supportive environment and assist others in navigating the IEP landscape.
- Maintain open communication, listen actively, and provide unbiased feedback.
- Encourage career success by fostering key skills in communication, leadership, professionalism, and networking.
- Advocate for staff both inside and outside their home institution.
- Lead by example, serving as an exemplary role model for others.
Submission Details
- Prepare a Written Narrative: Draft a concise narrative between 250 and 500 words describing the candidate’s contributions, mentoring experience, and impact.
- Submission Channel: Email your completed nomination narrative to iep@wildlife.ca.gov with the subject line: Mentorship Award Nominee.
- Submission Deadline: Submit all nominations by January 8, 2027.
Review and Selection Process
Following submission, IEP Program Support staff will review all entries, and the IEP Coordinators’ Team will make the final selection.
Call for Nominations Flyer & Questions
Share the Call for Nominations: Annual IEP Outstanding Mentorship Award (PDF) with others that explains the eligibility, selection criteria, submission details, and the review and selection process.
Questions on the nomination process can be directed to IEP Program Support at iep@wildlife.ca.gov.