Best Early Career Paper Award Supporting and Recognizing the Next Generation of STD Researchers
To help foster the next generation of STD researchers, the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association (ASTDA), in partnership with the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, established an annual award recognizing outstanding STD-related research conducted by early career authors. This award reflects ASTDA’s ongoing commitment to mentorship, scientific excellence, and professional development within the field.
About the Award
The Best Early Career Paper Award is presented annually at the ASTDA Awards Ceremony. The award honors exceptional scientific contributions published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases by investigators early in their careers.
All eligible manuscripts accepted for publication in Sexually Transmitted Diseases are automatically considered for the award. No separate application is required.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the award, authors must meet the criteria outlined below, which define eligibility and participation requirements for consideration.
The lead (first) author must self-identify as an early career author during the manuscript submission and registration process.
An early career author includes students, postdoctoral or clinical fellows, and junior faculty members within two years of completing their training.
The manuscript must be accepted for publication in Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
How the Selection Process Works
The award recipient is selected through a two-step review process designed to ensure fairness and scientific rigor:
- Nomination Phase Associate Editors and the Editor-in-Chief of Sexually Transmitted Diseases nominate one to two accepted manuscripts that were directly handled by them and meet eligibility criteria.
- Editorial Review PhaseNominated manuscripts are reviewed by the journal’s Editorial Board, who vote to rank their first-, second-, and third-place selections.
Past Award Winners
Past Award Recipients
| Year | Awardee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Michael Trager, PhD, MSc |
| 2024 | Diana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH |
| 2023 | Emily Rowlinson, PhD, MPH |
| 2022 | Ling Kong, MD |
| 2021 | Jennifer Sanderson Slutsker, MPH |
| 2019 | Jeb Jones, PhD, MPH |
| 2018 | Emily Learner, PhD, MPH |