BSA Emerging Leader Award

The BSA Emerging Leader Award is an annual recognition from the Botanical Society of America for creative and influential scholarship and impact in any area of botany. It honours early-career researchers who have outstanding accomplishments and demonstrate exceptional promise for future contributions in research, education, public policy, or service to the botanical community. Awardees are recognized at the BSA annual meeting, invited to present a special lecture at the next annual meeting, and receive a monetary award and additional benefits.

US$2,000 award check to cover conference attendance expenses; five-year membership in the Botanical Society of America; recognition at the annual meeting; opportunity to present a special lecture at the next annual meeting; invitation to submit a special paper to the American Journal of Botany.

At the time of the award (July 2026) candidates must be within eight years of earning a Ph.D. (or equivalent, not including parental or other leave) and must be a member of the Botanical Society of America at the time of the award.

Nominations/applications are evaluated by the BSA Emerging Leader Award Committee; nominees must be BSA members at the time of the award.