AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award Policy

Abstract submission and award application must be completed by the regular abstract submission deadline.

This award is open to MASCC members and non-members who are affiliated with a Portuguese institution.

Purpose
To recognize the research accomplishments of outstanding young investigators who are affiliated with a Portuguese institution.

Scope
The award is open to all junior investigators who have submitted an abstract to the Annual Meeting and who are affiliated with a Portuguese institution. The highest-ranked abstract submitted by a first author affiliated with a Portuguese institution will be chosen. The award is presented at the Annual Meeting.

Award
The AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award includes the following:

• Complimentary conference registration for the Annual Meeting,
• Three (3) nights’ accommodation for the Annual Meeting, and
• Travel reimbursement up to a maximum of 2500 euros with formal receipts received by info@aicso.pt (reimbursement will be provided directly by AICSO to the recipient after confirmation of the recipient’s attendance at the Annual Meeting, presentation of their abstract, and receipts reception).
• Recipients will present their abstract as an Oral Proffered Paper at the Annual Meeting.
• Recipients will be invited to the Awards Reception to receive their award certificate.
• Recipients will receive a one-year online MASCC membership (if they are already a member, they will receive their following year complimentary).
• If the recipient does not attend the Annual Meeting to present their work, the recipient will be obligated to refund AICSO with the values due for registration and accommodation, and the one-year MASCC membership will be cancelled.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be:
   • In training (training is defined as any clinical or post-graduate training), or
   • Out of training for no more than seven (7) years (applicants who have had career disruptions are still eligible provided they have been out of training for no more than seven (7) years full-time equivalent).
2. Applicants must be affiliated with a Portuguese institution.
3. Applicants may be from any profession.
4. Applicants must submit an abstract as first author to the Annual Meeting and answer the questions related to the AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator application for the regular abstract deadline.
5. Applicants must have primarily conducted the research presented in the abstract.
6. Applicants do not have to be members of MASCC, but must register for the Annual Meeting and must be able to present their abstract at the Annual Meeting. If an applicant is unable to be present at the Annual Meeting, then the award is forfeited.
7. Applicants who have previously been awarded an AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award are not eligible.
8. Applicants are not eligible for any other abstract-based awards for the given year.
9. AICSO Board Members are not eligible to receive an AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award.

Procedures

Application Process

1. There will be an option to apply for the AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award when submitting abstracts online. By selecting this option, a series of application questions will be presented to be completed.
2. Applicants must attest to their eligibility as a “Young Investigator”.
3. Applicants must attest to their affiliation with a Portuguese institution.
4. Abstracts including an application for an AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award must be submitted by the “Regular” abstract deadline through the MASCC submission platform.

Selection Process

1. Abstracts will be peer reviewed and scored.
2. All abstracts will be ranked in descending order by mean score. 
3. From among these abstracts reviews, AICSO will select the first author of the highest-ranked abstract to receive an AICSO-MASCC Young Investigator Award. In the event of a tie, an AICSO-nominated Committee Member will evaluate the top three (3) abstracts and decide on the recipient based on the following criteria: originality, theoretical framework, clinical practice pertinence, scientific accuracy, coherence of results and conclusions, and clarity of the content.
4. All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision via email by the end of March of the given year. The award recipient will be notified by AICSO and MASCC of the next steps for completing conference registration.
5. The award recipient must confirm their acceptance of the award by April 10 of the given year.
6. The award recipient must be present at the Annual Meeting and present their abstract to receive a travel reimbursement.
7. Award recipients may be asked by email to provide feedback after the Annual Meeting. Award recipients are required to respond within five (5) business days of such a request.