Individual Awards

Borelli Award

The Borelli Award, the most prestigious honor given by the ASB, recognizes outstanding career accomplishment and is awarded annually to an investigator who has conducted exemplary research in any area of biomechanics. The award is named after Giovanni Alfonso Borelli (1608-1679). Borelli, a mid-17th century Professor of Mathematics from Naples, Italy, is considered to be the father of modern biomechanics. Borelli’s novel contribution, the treatise “On the Movement of Animals” (Translated by Paul Maquet and published by Springer-Verlag), puts forth numerous propositions on the movements and displacements of the limbs of man and animals.

The Borelli Award selection is based on originality, quality and depth of the research and the relevance of this work to the field of biomechanics. The awardee must attend the Annual Meeting of the ASB in order to receive the award and to deliver the Borelli lecture. The award consists of an engraved plaque and a check for $1,500.

Eligibility
The Borelli Award is open to all current ASB members, but excluding current ASB officers and members of the Borelli and Hay Awards Committees.

Nominations
Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by others. Candidates should be established scientists whose work incorporates biomechanics in any scientific field

Submission Materials
1- Letter of nomination
2- Comprehensive curriculum vitae
3- Five publications on a single topic or theme

Submission Instructions
Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the ASB Awards Chair via the linked Google Form
All material must be submitted by the March 4, 2025.

Unsuccessful applications submitted to the March 4, 2025 deadline will be rolled over for consideration in the subsequent year. After two review cycles, the application will need to be resubmitted to the ASB Awards Chair.

Rubric

• Significance and innovation of their research (e.g., originality and quality of research)
• Career achievements (e.g., quality of career accomplishments)
• Relevance of their research to the field of biomechanics (e.g., depth of research and applicability to biomechanics),
• Impact of their research on the field of biomechanics (e.g., sustained influence on the field)

Jim Hay Memorial Award

The Jim Hay Memorial Award recognizes originality, quality, and depth of biomechanics research that address fundamental research questions relevant to extraordinary demands imposed in sport and exercise.

The awardee must attend the Annual Meeting of the ASB in order to receive the award and deliver the Jim Hay Memorial Lecture. The Hay Memorial Lecture should highlight how the study of biomechanical principles in the extraordinary context of sport can inform our understanding and directly impact performance or focus on central questions related to selected physiological systems, e.g., the musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, or cardiovascular system, that inform behavior at the extreme end of human performance. The award consists of an engraved plaque and a check for $1,000.

The Hay Awardee will be invited to submit a paper with commentaries from the other invited speakers participating in the annual Jim Hay Memorial Session. The guidelines for submission of the peer-reviewed paper will be established by the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Applied Biomechanics.

Eligibility
The Jim Hay Memorial Award is open to all scientists excluding current ASB officers and members of the Borelli and Hay Awards Committees.

Nominations
Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by other ASB members.

Submission Material
1- Letter of nomination including the nomination of potential speakers for the committee to consider for the Jim Hay Memorial Session.
2- Comprehensive curriculum vitae highlighting publications that address fundamental research questions relevant to challenges imposed on the body in sport and exercise.

Submission Instructions
Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.
All material must be submitted by December 15, 2024.

Unsuccessful applications submitted to the December 15, 2023 deadline will be rolled over for consideration in the subsequent year. After two review cycles, the application will need to be resubmitted to the ASB Awards Chair.

Goel Award for Translational Research in Biomechanics

The Goel Award, newly created in 2016, recognizes outstanding accomplishments in translational biomechanics research, entrepreneurship, and societal benefit. The award is named after Dr. Vijay Goel, the Borelli Award winner in 2014 and is given annually to an ASB member. The Award was initiated by Dr. Goel’s loving and devoted family.

The Goel Award selection is based on originality, quality and depth of the candidate’s research, and the commercial and societal benefits emanating from this research. This research is expected to have a biomechanical element. The winning candidate will have demonstrated the translational nature of his or her work from basic research to the enhancement of human health and well-being. The awardee must attend the Annual Meeting of the ASB in order to receive the award. The award consists of an engraved plaque and a check for $1,000.

Eligibility
The Goel Award is open to all ASB members excluding ASB officers and members of the Society’s Awards Committees.

Nominations
Candidates may be nominated by themselves or by others.

Submission Materials – Emphasizing the translational nature of the work
1- Letter of nomination
2- Comprehensive curriculum vitae
3- Five publications on a single topic or theme. These can include technical reports and patent synopses
4- Optional: Additional support letters from individuals working in any field affected by the nominee’s work or contributions

Submission Instructions
Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form
All material must be submitted by March 4, 2025.

Unsuccessful applications submitted to the March 4, 2025 deadline will be rolled over for consideration in the subsequent year. After two review cycles, the application will need to be resubmitted to the ASB Awards Chair.

Rubric

Applicants will be reviewed on the criteria:

• Translation of research (e.g., translational nature of work from basic research to the enhancement of human health and well-being)
• Significance and innovation of their research (e.g., originality, quality and depth of research)
• Commercial and societal benefits (e.g., the strength of the commercial and societal benefits stemming from research)
• Relevance of their research to the field of biomechanics

Founders’ Award

The Founders’ Award is given to recognize “scientific accomplishment in biomechanics and excellence in mentoring” and is open to investigators of all disciplines within ASB. This is a new award that was presented in 2017 for the first time. The awardee must attend the Annual Meeting of the ASB in order to receive the award. The award consists of an engraved plaque and a check for $1,000.

Eligibility
Nominees must be current ASB members who are between 5 and 20 years of their terminal degrees.

Nominations
Candidates may be nominated by themselves or by others.

Submission Materials
1- Letter of support that highlights research and mentoring activities of nominee
2- Full CV with research accomplishments and mentoring activities highlighted
3- Up to 5 publications

Submission Instructions
Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.
All material must be submitted by March 4, 2025.

Unsuccessful applications submitted to the March 4, 2025 deadline will be rolled over for consideration in the subsequent year. After two review cycles, the application will need to be resubmitted to the ASB Awards Chair.

Rubric

Applicants will be reviewed on the criteria:

• Significance and innovation of their research (e.g., originality, quality and depth of research)
• Mentoring impact (e.g., level of excellence in mentoring and mentorship activities)
• Accomplishments (e.g., career achievements in research and mentoring)
• Relevance of their research and mentoring to the field of biomechanics

Jean Landa Pytel Award for Diversity Mentorship in Biomechanics

Dr. Jean Landa Pytel (1947-2018) was one of the founding members of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) who actively advocated for women and encouraged others to find their own path in biomechanics and become involved in ASB leadership. Her career-long efforts helped to increase women’s participation in ASB membership, biomechanics research, and leadership to the levels we see today. Jean was a role model for mentorship that encouraged active citizenship in ASB, supported multiple pathways toward research excellence, created opportunities in leadership, and welcomed and valued diversity and inclusion in the society. ASB recognizes that an inclusive and diverse approach to mentorship is necessary for promoting scientific excellence and productive careers in biomechanics. At this time, we seek to recognize the contributions of current ASB members whose mentorship values reflect those of Dr. Pytel’s and contribute to ASB’s Diversity Mission. The Jean Landa Pytel Diversity Mentoring Award recognizes the long-term impact of mentoring on both the careers of individual scientists, including women and individuals from other traditionally under-represented backgrounds in ASB, and the ultimate betterment of our society as a whole.

Eligibility

Nominees should be ASB members who emulate the qualities of Jean Landa Pytel, have made a demonstrable difference in the career paths of their mentees, and, by doing so, have contributed to the advancement of the ASB’s Diversity Mission. Evidence of these qualities include attributes including, but not limited to, the examples below:

• Supports careers of mentees from underrepresented groups
• Shares skills, knowledge and expertise
• Demonstrates empathy towards their mentees
• Demonstrates perseverance and resiliency and encourages it in their mentees
• Displays a positive attitude and acts as a positive role model
• Takes a personal interest in the mentoring relationship
• Exhibits enthusiasm about biomechanics
• Values ongoing learning and growth in biomechanics
• Provides guidance and constructive feedback
• Sets and meets ongoing personal and professional goals
• Values the opinions and initiatives of others
• Motivates others by setting a good example

The Jean Landa Pytel Diversity Mentoring Award is open to all ASB members, excluding current members of the ASB executive board and members of the Jean Landa Pytel Diversity Mentoring Award Committee.

Nominations
Candidates must be nominated by other active members of ASB in good standing who have been mentored by the nominee.

Submission Material
1- No more than three letters of nomination from ASB members who were mentored by the nominated individual.
2- Comprehensive curriculum vitae for the nominee highlighting activities specific to mentoring, especially as aligned with the values and attributes listed above.

Submission Instructions
Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.
Nomination packets will then be forwarded to the Jean Landa Pytel Diversity Mentoring Award Committee.
All material must be submitted by December 15, 2024.

Unsuccessful applications submitted to the December 15, 2024 deadline will be rolled over for consideration in the subsequent year. After two review cycles, the application will need to be resubmitted to the ASB Awards Chair.

Rubric

Applicants will be reviewed on the criteria:

• Growth of the next generation of biomechanists
• Demonstration of positive character traits
• Support of mentees of underrepresented groups
• Service and leadership in the area of diversity

Pre-doctoral Award

This award recognizes early achievements by promising scientists prior to the award of their PhD. Selection is based upon the scientific quality of the submitted material. The awardee must attend the annual ASB meeting to present their work in a special awards session. It is expected that the awardee will submit a full-length manuscript for publication in the Journal of Biomechanics. The award consists of an engraved plaque, a check for $500, and a waiver of meeting fees for the annual ASB meeting.

Eligibility
Current or pending members of the ASB at the time of submission. A person is considered eligible for the pre-doctoral award if they have student status at the time of abstract submission, even if they complete their doctoral work before the annual meeting.

Nominations
Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by an ASB member.

Submission Material
1- Letter of nomination
2- Description of the nominee’s current research (limit 2 pages). Include a statement specifying the nominee’s contribution to all work described and to all accompanying publications.
3- Curriculum vitae
4- Published papers and/or submitted manuscripts (limit 5)
5- Abstract of original research submitted (via regular call for abstracts) to the ASB annual meeting with the nominee as first author.

Submission Instructions
Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.
Note that ASB Pre-doctoral Award applicants must submit their abstract to the ASB annual meeting.
All material must be submitted by March 4, 2025. 

Rubric

Applicants will be reviewed on the criteria:

• Candidate and nomination (e.g., strength of nomination letter and demonstration of scientific achievement on curriculum vitae)
• Current research (e.g., scientific quality of current research and nominee’s contribution to the work from research description and manuscripts)
• Abstract (e.g., scientific quality of submitted first-author abstract to upcoming ASB meeting)
• Dissemination (e.g., potential for the work presented in the abstract to be expanded into a full-length journal article)

Early Career Achievement Award

This award recognizes early achievements by promising scientists who is within five years of receiving their PhD. Selection is based upon the scientific quality of the submitted material. The awardee must attend the annual ASB meeting to present their work in a special awards session. It is expected that the awardee will submit a full-length manuscript for publication in the Journal of Biomechanics. The award consists of an engraved plaque, a check for $500, and a waiver of meeting fees for the annual ASB meeting.

Eligibility
Current or pending members of the ASB at the time of submission. A person is considered eligible for the ASB Early Career Achievement Award  if they have received their doctoral degree within five years of the annual meeting.

Nominations
Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by an ASB member

Submission Material
1- Letter of nomination
2- Description of the nominee’s current research (limit 2 pages).  Include a statement specifying the nominee’s contribution to all work described and to all accompanying publications.
3- Curriculum vitae
4- Published papers and/or submitted manuscripts (limit 5)
5- Abstract of original research submitted (via regular call for abstracts) to the ASB annual meeting with the nominee as first author.

Submission Instructions
Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.
Note that Early Career Achievement Award applicants must submit their abstract to the ASB annual meeting.
All material must be submitted by March 4, 2025. 

Rubric

Applicants will be reviewed on the criteria:

• Candidate and nomination (e.g., strength of nomination letter and demonstration of scientific achievement on curriculum vitae)
• Current research (e.g., scientific quality of current research and nominee’s contribution to the work from research description and manuscripts)
• Abstract (e.g., scientific quality of submitted first-author abstract to upcoming ASB meeting)
• Dissemination (e.g., potential for the work presented in the abstract to be expanded into a full-length journal article)

ASB Fellow

For details, see https://asbweb.org/fellows/