Article 1. Nature of the awards
The awards are intended for researchers working in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology at a Spanish research center or university.
Each award will consist of a certificate and 10,000 euros, less the percentage deductible under current tax regulations. If the award goes to a candidature formed by two or more persons, its monetary amount will be divided equally among them.
In the event that awardees are not SEBBM members, SEBBM will also grant them one year of ordinary membership and a 10% discount on the membership fee for the second year. In the case of candidatures of two or more persons, membership will be granted to all the individuals making up the group.
Article 2. Candidate requirements
Candidates must meet the following conditions:
- In possession of a PhD.
- Aged under 45 on the closing date of the submission period.
In the case of joint candidatures, no member of the group may be older than 45 years of age on the closing date of the submission period.
This age limit may be raised by a maximum of three years in cases where a candidate’s professional career has been interrupted due to the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child or children, or due to accident or sickness leave lasting two or more consecutive months. In such cases, where duly accredited, the limit may be raised by a period equal to that of the interruption, rounded up to the nearest full month.
Applications to extend the age limit for any of these reasons can be made by submitting a letter setting out the facts together with the necessary supporting documentation.
The SEBBM governing board and the BBVA Foundation will study this statement and formally notify the candidate of their decision.
Article 3. Submitting a candidature
Candidatures may be:
- Direct, submitted by the interested parties on their own behalf. Each candidate individual or research group may make only one submission in this call.
- Indirect, via nomination letters. The same organization, institution or nominator may present more than one candidature, but may not present the same candidate and/or research group in different award categories.
For correspondence purposes, please provide the name of a single submission coordinator.
Article 4. Documentation
Candidatures may be presented in Spanish or in English.
Each submission must include the following documents in PDF format:
- Basic candidate details
- Personal data processing form signed by the candidate(s).
- Copy of the candidate(s)’ DNI or passport.
- Description of contributions setting out the merits of the candidate(s) (maximum 2 pages). In candidatures comprising a research group or unit, the description must also explain the reasons for presenting them as a group or unit.
- Short curriculum vitae of the candidate(s) (maximum 4 pages per candidate), which should feature their most significant publications and research stays, as well as a description of the scientific and social impact of their research, including, where relevant, its clinical dimension.
- In the case of direct candidatures, candidates may receive up to two letters of support from either an individual or the legal representative of an organization, setting out the candidate(s)’ merits and the reasons why they deserve the award. Letter of support signatories should provide them via the online form before the submission deadline, together with the personal data processing form.
- Indirect candidatures should come with between one and two nomination letters setting out the candidate(s)’ merits and the reasons why they deserve the award. Nomination letters should be provided via the online form before the submission deadline, together with the personal data processing form.
Article 5. Selection process
The awards will be decided by a committee made up of renowned experts in the biochemistry and molecular biology areas addressed in this call, with the same number of members appointed by SEBBM and the BBVA Foundation.
The committee chair will be appointed by consensus between SEBBM and the BBVA Foundation.
Depending on the number of submissions, a technical panel may be formed to draw up a shortlist for the committee, without prejudice to the committee having access to all candidate materials.
The committee will select a single winner in each category.
The awards may be declared wholly or partially void.
The committee will evaluate all entries meeting the requirements of these call conditions and select the winning candidatures in accordance with the evaluation criteria listed below:
- Scientific excellence and impact of publications, in accordance with the DORA and/or COARA principles.
- Originality, innovation and impact of the research.
- Scientific leadership.
- International reach.
- Training/Educational and public communication actions.
- Clinical/societal transfer or translation.
- R&D&I management.
No member of the SEBBM governing board may compete in these awards or submit a candidature until two years have passed since the end of their term of office.
Article 6. Conflict of interests
The following circumstances will constitute a bar to serving on the award committee:
- Having presented, nominated or supported a candidature.
- Having a conflict of interest with any candidature.
- Belonging to the SEBBM governing board.
Any other situation involving some conflict of interest between a committee member and a given candidature or candidatures must be expressly declared in advance. In the event that a candidature is subject to a conflict of interest, the committee member affected may not take part in its evaluation.
Having been apprised of the candidatures and before deliberations begin, committee members must notify the organizing institutions of any conflict that might arise.
Article 7. Data protection
SEBBM and the BBVA Foundation will ensure that current regulations regarding the protection of personal data are fully complied with.
Article 8. Acceptance and modifications
The fact of participating in the call signifies the acceptance of its conditions and award decision, which will not be open to appeal, and renunciation of any claim in its respect of whatsoever nature.
No itemized or individual information will be provided on the submissions received or the deliberations of the award committee.
Exceptionally, the BBVA Foundation and SBBM reserve the right to make changes in the wording of these conditions for the sole purpose of clarifying their content, without such changes in any case implying a substantial or arbitrary alteration of the same. The text of the call conditions, which you are advised to read, will be available for the duration of this call on the websites of the BBVA Foundation, www.fbbva.es, and SEBBM, www.sebbm.es.
The identity of the winning candidates will be published on the SEBBM and BBVA Foundation websites, along with the membership of the committee.
