The IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medal honours Early Career Scientists for their outstanding research in the physical sciences of the oceans, one in physical oceanography and one in chemical oceanography, and for their cooperation in international research.
The IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medals, one for physical oceanography and one for chemical oceanography, are presented by the IAPSO President, every two years, at the biannual IAPSO Assembly, where the Awardees will be expected to give a talk on a scientific topic of their choice. Financial assistance to attend the Assembly will be available.
The Call for nominations for the IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medals for the year 2023 was distributed on 3 October 2022.
The committee on awarding IAPSO Early Career Scientist (ECS) medals 2023 has received excellent nominations for the discipline physical oceanography. After careful consideration the following awardee is selected
Dr. Malte F. Stuecker, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, USA, is the recipient of the 2023 IAPSO Early Career Scientist medal in physical oceanography. This is awarded in recognition of his fundamental contributions to understanding the dynamics of tropical climate variability, its interactions with other parts of the climate system, and elucidating the spatial patterns of climate change.
Dr. Stuecker gave a talk entitled "New Perspectives on El Nino’s Central Role in the Global Climate System" at the IUGG 2023 General Assembly in Berlin, Germany.
Procedure and requirements for Nomination
Nominations, including self-nominations, for the IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medals for physical and chemical oceanography must be submitted to the IAPSO Secretary General, by the deadline stated in the call. Late submissions will not be considered.
Members of the IAPSO Early Career Scientist Award Committee are not eligible to be nominated for the medal and cannot write a supporting letter for a candidate, or be a nominator.
A Medal shall be awarded only once to the same scientist.
Eligibility of candidates
The candidate should meet the following criteria:
- The candidate should hold a PhD (or equivalent) degree which must have been awarded, in principle, no more than 10 years prior to the deadline for the submission of the nomination or self-nomination. Career breaks may be taken into account and we particularly encourage people who meet the other criteria but have taken time out to have a family to consider applying.
- Be an active scientist with a track record at the cutting-edge of physical or chemical oceanography.
- Demonstrate, where possible, international cooperation in physical or chemical oceanography.
Nomination package
The nomination package must be emailed to the IAPSO Secretary General and should include:
- a one page cover letter (A4 format), briefly summarising the candidate’s achievements and stating whether the candidate is applying for the physical or chemical oceanography medal;
- a brief statement (200 characters or less, including spaces, to be used as a citation) of what is considered the candidate’s most important scientific achievement;
- two supporting letters for a candidate provided by scientists who have worked with the candidate or are familiar with the candidate's work through publications. At least one of the two scientists should be from outside the candidate's own organization. In the case of self-nomination, the candidate is responsible for communicating with the two scientists to ensure that they submit the supporting letters directly to the IAPSO Secretary General by the nomination deadline;
- the candidate's CV (no more than 3 single-spaced pages of A4 format) with an emphasis on the candidate’s scientific work in oceanography and, if possible, on the candidate’s contribution to international scientific cooperation;
- a list (no more than 2 single-spaced pages of A4 format) of the most important published scientific works.
Call for nominations
The deadline for nominations and self-nominations will be six months prior to the opening of the IAPSO assembly. For the 2025 call for nominations, the deadline is 10 January, 2025.
Candidates who are not selected in one competition may re-nominate or reapply for a subsequent competition, provided that updated materials are submitted and the eligibility requirements are still valid.
IAPSO Early Career Scientist Award Committee
The IAPSO Early Career Scientist Award Committee is appointed by the IAPSO President. It consists of four members plus the chair of the IAPSO Early Career Working Group. Together they will agree that the candidates meet the criteria of the award, and rank the nominations. If necessary, the Committee can request an independent expert reviewer to provide an outside opinion on a candidate. The Award Committee will then make a recommendation to the IAPSO Executive Committee for ratification.
Additional notes
Supporting letters should be concise, clear, and preferably on letterhead. They must clearly state how the nominee's research has made a significant impact on the related field, written in terms that can be understood by their peers and those outside the research field.
- The first paragraph of the supporting letter should include the name of the candidate and a few sentences stating the overall reasons for supporting the candidate. The supporting letters should address how the work has contributed to the field overall and/or to the growth of the field, as well as what insights have been gained and what impacts the work will have on current and future research.
- The final paragraph of the supporting letters should summarize the work, state who has benefited and highlight some of the candidate’s recognitions and notable contributions to the field.
- The CV should include the candidate's (1) name, (2) address, (3) history of employment, (4) degrees, (5) research experience, (6) honours, (7) memberships, and (8) service to IAPSO and/or international communities through leadership, committee work, advisory boards, etc. It is important to explain the reasons for the honours that have been received by the candidate.
- A list of major published scientific works should begin with a brief statement of the total number and types of the candidate’s publications. For example: “... is the author of xx publications, yy of which are in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The following selection best supports the nomination.”
Previous Recipients of the IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medal have been:
| Year | Physical ocean science | Chemical ocean science |
| 2023 | Dr Malte F. Stuecker | |
| 2021 | Dr Thomas Wahl | Dr Jessica Fitzsimmons |
| 2019 | Dr Gerard McCarthy | Dr Mar Benavides |
IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medal 2023 - Citations
Physical ocean science
Dr. Malte F. Stuecker, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, USA, is the recipient of the 2023 IAPSO Early Career Scientist medal in physical ocean science. This is awarded in recognition of his fundamental contributions to understanding the dynamics of tropical climate variability, its interactions with other parts of the climate system, and elucidating the spatial patterns of climate change.
Dr. Stuecker gave a talk entitled "New Perspectives on El Nino’s Central Role in the Global Climate System" at the IUGG 2023 General Assembly in Berlin, Germany.
New perspectives on El Niño’s central role in the global climate system
IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medal 2021 - Citations
Physical ocean science
Dr. Thomas Wahl, University of Central Florida, USA, is the recipient of the 2021 IAPSO Early Career Scientist medal in physical ocean science. This is awarded in recognition of his fundamental contributions to the research on changes in mean sea level, tides, storm surges, waves, and their interactions.
Dr. Wahl's research has had a high impact with significant involvement in practical outcomes, and with immediate relevance to humankind. He has also written key publications in an accessible manner to multi-disciplinary audiences.
Bigger ships or less flooding? How tidal changes affect flooding along the U.S. coast (recording of the presentation, VACO-21)
Chemical ocean science
Dr. Jessica Fitzsimmons, Texas A&M University, USA, is the recipient of the 2021 IAPSO Early Career Scientist medal in chemical ocean science. This is awarded in recognition of her contributions to advances in the analysis, distribution and cycling of trace elements in the oceans, particularly iron.
Dr. Fitzsimmons has a strong publication record, and she has made an important impact on the community studying trace metals in the ocean. In addition, she has extensive editorial experience and has frequently led seagoing research expeditions.
Micronutrient trace metal dynamics in the Arctic Ocean (recording of the presentation, VACO-21)
IAPSO Early Career Scientist Medal 2019 - Citations
Physical ocean science
Dr Gerard McCarthy, Lecturer at the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, Maynooth University, Ireland is the recipient of the 2019 IAPSO Early Career Scientist medal in physical ocean science. This is awarded in recognition of his outstanding contribution to research on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and its role in Earth's climate system.
Presentation by Dr Gerard McCarthy in Montreal 2019 1.7MB
Chemical ocean science
Dr Mar Benavides, Scientific Researcher at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Marseille, France is the recipient of the 2019 IAPSO Early Career Scientist medal in chemical ocean science. This is awarded in recognition of her development of original strategies, integrating disciplines, to introduce a novel and comprehensive oceanographic approach to nitrogen cycling research.
Presentation by Dr Mar Benavides in Montreal 2019 2.6MB