IDF is pleased to announce the establishment of the new “IDF Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize” for “early-career” scientists, including graduate and postgraduate students who are less than 3 years since graduation from their highest degree attained. It is aimed toward the recognition of scientists and/or technologists in the dairy science and technology field.

The award has been named in honor of Professor Pavel (Paul) Jelen, a Czech born scientist who has spent his career based in Canada and the US, developing academic work on Dairy Food Science and Technology, and encouraging, mentoring, and educating students and early-career scientists and technologists, and who recognizes the importance of communication.

The “IDF Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize” will be presented at the next IDF World Dairy Summit, to be held in September in Delhi, India, and will thereafter be presented annually at every subsequent summit. This will provide an opportunity for awardees to showcase their work at the sector’s most relevant event of the year, thus providing opportunities for further education and mentoring and enhancing employment opportunities.

“The IDF Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize” is an initiative of IDF aimed at promoting the engagement of students, graduates, and early career researchers in dairy food science and technology, and fostering their focus and dedication on relevant topics for the sector within a wide range of themes”, explains Geoffrey Smithers, member of the Standing Committee on Dairy Science and Technology at IDF. “We are convinced that if we provide them with the right incentives to direct their careers towards dairy-related issues, we will be able to empower new generations of scientists and technologists devoted to dairy science, and thus continue to improve the quality, safety, and nutritious values of milk and dairy products”, he adds.

Qualifying early-career scientists and technologists are invited to make their submissions by May 31, 2022, through IDF at the following e-mail: [email protected],  addressing scientific and/or technological topics aligned with relevant themes in dairy food science and technology within the following fields: dairy science and technology, including processing and dairy ingredients; sustainability; standards of identity and labeling; dairy food additives, contaminants, residues, and processing aids, including analytical methods; dairy microbiology and dairy food safety, including hygiene microbiological analytical methods and global harmonization of methods; dairy product composition, including analytical methods for components; and nutrition and health.

For more information, please check the IDF Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize, where you can find all details on how to submit your abstracts.