RULES OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 2027 Noster & SCIENCE Microbiome Prize

• Entrants must be a researcher in the field of microbiome research with an advanced degree ( M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. ) received in the last 10 years.

• Eligibility extensions:

         • Maternity: 18 months extension per child born during the eligibility period up to a maximum of three years.

         • Other parental or medical leave: up to two years will be granted based on documented leave. Applicants should indicate they qualify for an extension in the application and documents will be requested during evaluation.

• The entrant's essay must describe contributions to the functional attributes of the microbiota of any organism that has potential to contribute to our understanding of human or veterinary health and disease or to guide therapeutic interventions.
• The entrant must have performed or directed the work described in the essay.
• The research must have been performed during the previous three years.

• Text generated from AI, machine learning, or similar algorithmic tools cannot be used to generate the submission nor its accompanying figures, images, or graphics. Limited editing with tools such as Grammarly is acceptable but must be declared. During submission, entrants will be required to declare they have not used AI inconsistent with this requirement. Entrants are accountable for the accuracy of the entry and for ensuring that there is no plagiarism. They must also ensure that all sources are appropriately cited and should carefully review the work to guard against bias that may be introduced by AI. Editors may decline to consider an entry if AI is used inappropriately.

  While the research may be part of a larger team effort, an eligible entrant must be a single individual and the essay must focus on their contribution.

  An entrant may not win more than one Science Prize using the same essay or a similar essay on the same research.

  Essays on the same research cannot win more than one Science Prize regardless of who the entrant is.

• Past winners of a Science Prize cannot be eligible for another Science Prize until at least 5 years have passed since the award.

• Employees of Nitto Pharmaceuticals, its subsidiaries, Science and AAAS, and their relatives are not eligible for the prize.