IDF is pleased to announce the opening of the second edition of the “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. The prize is aimed towards the recognition of scientists and/or technologists in the dairy science and technology field.

The winner will receive an honorarium of €400 as well as travel expenses of up to €1,800 to support attendance at the IDF World Dairy Summit in Chicago. The second and third-prize winners will also receive an honorarium. All awardees will present their work before a relevant audience at the IDF World Dairy Summit 2023. For more information, please check the IDF Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize page where you can find all details on how to submit your abstracts.

“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.

Awardees are carefully selected by a panel of judges with expertise across a broad range of disciplines related to dairy science and technology and drawn from several standing committees of IDF. Qualifying early career scientists and technologists are invited to make their submissions by May 10, 2023, through IDF at the following e-mail: [email protected]. The applicant’s score will be informed by June 30 to allow for travel arrangements and to be included in the programme of the IDF World Dairy Summit 2023.

As part of the call for submissions, IDF will organise a free webinar on Wednesday, February 22 at 9:30 am CET with the winners of the inaugural edition of the prize. It will be a chance to know more about the awards and listen to testimonials. To register for the webinar follow this link.

2022 awardee, Angela Costa, said: “The opportunity to network and interact with individuals you would never have met without this opportunity is invaluable to young researchers like me”.

Second place winner, Debrashee Roy, said: “The prize is a recognition from IDF for the quality of work being done. I can also build my international network, collaborate in the future, and progress in my career”.

About the Prize
The IDF Early Career Scientist Prize has been named in honour 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.

About IDF (International Dairy Federation)
Helping nourish the world with safe and sustainable dairy
The IDF is the leading source of scientific and technical expertise for all stakeholders of the dairy chain. Since 1903, IDF has provided a mechanism for the dairy sector to reach a global consensus on how to help feed the world with safe and sustainable dairy products. A recognized international authority in the development of science-based standards for the dairy sector, IDF has an important role to play in ensuring the right policies, standards, practices, and regulations are in place to ensure the world’s dairy products are safe and sustainable.