Nominations Due 15 November 2026

This award was established in 2025 to recognize and celebrate the contributions of early-career researchers to the Physical Review journals within the Astronomy and Astrophysics Topical Group. It was first awarded in 2026 to Kushal Lodha for his contribution to the DESI Data Release 2 paper (Phys. Rev. D, 112, 08351 – Published 6 October, 2025).

Who should apply

Eligible candidates are early-career authors (PhD students and post-docs) who are principal contributors to nominated papers. Nominations can be submitted by the journals of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Topical Group, members and entities of the astronomy and astrophysics community, including authors of nominated papers. Self-nominations are possible. Nominations should be submitted via email to astro@aps.org. The deadline for nominations is 15 November 2026, and the nominated paper should be published or be accepted for publication by that date.

The nomination should include a brief description of why the paper stands out and, if possible, the significance of the nominated early-career researcher's contribution. Self-nominations should include an endorsement by one of the senior authors of the nominated paper.

The recipient is selected by a committee composed of core members of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Topical Group representing each journal and selected members of the astronomy and astrophysics community. The final selection is determined through a ranked-choice vote. Papers are evaluated on the basis of scientific excellence, originality, clarity of presentation, and impact on the field. One award is issued each year and presented at the APS Global Physics Summit (GPS).

Awardees receive

• $2,000 prize money
• Financial support to attend the Global Physics Summit (GPS)
• Speaker slot in a dedicated astronomy and astrophysics session at GPS, where the prize will be presented
• Promotion on the journal websites, social media, and e-newsletters
• Notification to their department head or person identified by them
• Digital award badge to indicate status on websites and social media
• Certificate of Acknowledgment