Sigma Xi's Young Investigator Award, which includes a certificate of recognition and $5,000, was presented to its first recipient at the 1998 Annual Meeting.

Nominations for the Young Investigator Award in 2006 in the area of physical sciences, including engineering and mathematics may be submitted prior to June 1, 2005.

The Young Investigator Award will alternate between the physical sciences, including engineering and mathematics, and the life sciences, including social sciences. Any active (dues-paying) member of Sigma Xi within 10 years of his/her highest earned degree at the time of nomination is eligible. Active membership in Sigma Xi is also a requirement for nominators.

Nominators, who may be Sigma Xi chapters, members or members-at-large, must do the following:

1. Supply a letter of nomination that explains why the individual is being nominated for this award, including their scientific accomplishments, the relevance of their research, and the nominee's ability to communicate their work to the general public
2. Arrange to have three letters of recommendation written in support of the nomination. (It is preferred if one of the letters of reference is from an individual outside the nominee's institution.)

 

3. Supply a current curriculum vita or resume of the nominee.

4. Forward nominations and letters of recommendation to the Committee on Awards at the Society's headquarters. Nominations will be reviewed initially by the Regional Directors of each of Sigma Xi's six regions for nominees within their regions and by the Committee on Awards for nominees who are members-at-large.

Funding for the Young Investigator Award will initially come from the Society's annual budget and, later, from private or industrial sources. Ultimately, a named endowment will be established to support it.

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May 2005: the Hanscom Sigma Xi Chapter nominated Dr. Robert James Reid, Jr. for the Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award:

Dr. Reid is a national and international leader in the physics of failure research for enabling the revolutionary impact of RF MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) switches on radar and communication systems. He has taught continuing education, evening courses on MEMS at the Northeastern University State of the Art program for the working, general public, and for the Boston section of the IEEE