Technical Research Paper Competitions – Division Guidelines

Oral and Poster Abstracts are eligible for the following competitions:

• The Aquatic Food Products Division winners are determined on the basis of an abstract and presentation, either oral or poster. The Division will give one first place award of $500, two second place awards of $350, and two third-place awards of $250.

• The Carbohydrate Division preliminary selection is based on the abstract. The finalists are then identified and the winners are determined on the basis of their presentation, either oral or poster. The division will give first, second and third place awards of $500, $400 and $300.

• The Dairy Foods Division (Manfred Kroger) winners are determined on the basis of the oral presentation. The Division will give one first place award of $750, one second place award of $500 one third place of $250 and the two runners up will receive awards of $100 each. The Dairy Foods Division (John C. Bruhn) winners are determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give two first place awards of $375 and two second place awards of $100.

• The Food Engineering Division winners are determined on the basis of an extended abstract. The Division will give first, second and third place award of $1,000, $500 and $250.

• The Food Microbiology Division (Z. John Ordal) winners are determined on the basis of the oral presentation and the Division will give first, second and third-place awards of $300, $200, and $100 and two honorable mention awards of $50 each. The Food Microbiology Division (John C. Ayres) winners are determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give first, second and third-place awards of $300, $200, and $100 and two honorable mention awards of $50 each.

• The Nonthermal Processing Division winners are determined on the basis of the presentation, either oral or poster, however, a poster is required from all participants. Six finalists will be selected from ten semi-finalists to submit extended abstracts. The Division will give first, second, and third-place awards of $700, $500, and $300.

• The Refrigerated and Frozen Foods Division (Alfred P. Schwan) winners are determined on the basis of a presentation, either oral or poster. The Division will give first, second, and third-place awards of $300, $200, $100.

Oral Abstracts ONLY are eligible for the following competitions:

• The Food Laws and Regulation Division winner is determined on the basis of the oral presentation. The Division will give one award of $300.

• The Muscle Foods Division winners are determined on the basis of an oral presentation. The Division will give first, second, and third-place awards of $900, $600, and $300.  

• The Sensory Evaluation Division (Rose Marie Pangborn) winners are determined on the basis of an oral presentation. The Division will give first, second, and third-place awards of $500, $300, $200.

Poster Abstracts ONLY are eligible for the following competitions:

• The Biotechnology Division winners are determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give first, second, and third-place awards of $300, $200 and $100.

• The Food Chemistry Division winners are determined on the basis of the poster presentation. Five finalists will be selected from the applicants to compete in the competition at the meeting. The Division will give first, second and third place awards of $750, $500, and $300 and two awards of merit for $300 each.  

• The Food Packaging Division winner is determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give first, second and third-place awards of $500, $300, and $150.

• The Fruit and Vegetable Products Division winners are determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give first, second, and third-place awards of $400, $300, and $200.  

• The Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Division will be determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give first and second place awards of $300 and $200.

• The Nutrition Division (Mark L. Bieber) winners are determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give one first place award of $700, one second place award of $500 and one third place award of $300.  

• The Product Development Division winner is determined on the basis of the poster presentation. The Division will give first, second, and third-place awards of $1,000, $750 and $500. Fourth and fifth place will receive honorary awards of $100 each.

• The Susan L. Hefle Toxicology and Safety Evaluation Division winner is determined on the basis of the poster presentation. Finalists in the paper competition are given a one-year membership to the Division.  The Division will give first, second and third place awards of $750, $500, and $300.

2009 George F. Stewart IFT International Research Paper Competition

Open only to research conducted outside the U.S. and submitted by a primary author (student or a professional) who is a Non-U.S. citizen.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: January 7, 2009 at 4pm Central Time

The International Division Research Paper Competition, named in honor of George F. Stewart (1967-68 IFT President), was inaugurated as part of IFT's 50th Anniversary Celebration in 1989. The competition is administered by the IFT International Division.

Purpose
The purpose of the competition is to recognize food science and technology research conducted in countries other than the United States of America. The International Division encourages professionals and students entering the International Paper Competition to think on global food science and technology issues and the needs of all people in the world. We expect this competition will help IFT reach its goal of becoming a global organization, promote the diversity of opportunities and needs in a shrinking world, and recognize the diverse and rich research skills of the international members of IFT.

How to Enter
All entries must comply with the “Call for Abstracts Submission Guidelines” at www.ift.org.

The research must be conducted by a primary author who is a non-U.S. citizen, and the research should be conducted outside the United States. This competition is open to students and professionals.

A primary author can submit no more than one paper in the competition. At least one author must be a member in good standing of IFT or an IFT Allied Organization. Entry in the competition is requested by checking the appropriate box during online submission at www.ift.org. Participation in the International Research Paper Competition does NOT preclude participation in other Annual Meeting competitions. (The authors must choose one IFT Division that will review the competing abstract for acceptance at the Annual Meeting. This choice includes the International Division or any of the IFT Divisions.)

The authors must send a curriculum vitae for the first author, a brief description of the research center where the work was performed, and an additional copy of the abstract to the Chair of the International Research Paper Competition Jury:
Dr. Elvira González de Mejía, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, Email, phone: (217) 244-3196, fax: (217) 265-0925.

Judging
Only abstracts accepted for presentation by the Scientific Program Subcommittee will be evaluated by the International Paper Competition Jury. Each abstract will be judged using the following criteria: (a) Research relevance; (b) Research quality; (c) Materials and methods used; (d) Discussion of results and conclusions; and (e) Clarity of presentation. The Jury will use a point system to differentiate author career stage and research resources available.

NOTE: Papers that have already been published or submitted to peer-reviewed journals or to other meetings will be disqualified from this competition.

As a result of the abstract evaluation, the jury will select up to five entries and finalists. The first author will be advised of his/her selection no later than March 1, 2009. Finalists must prepare a full paper following the format required by the Journal of Food Science. Check out our website for the submission information. Submission of the paper does not lead to a review for publication. This paper must be submitted no later than May 1, 2009, to the Chair of the International Research Paper Competition Jury, Dr. Elvira González de Mejía, for evaluation by five judges. Contact information for Dr. González de Mejía is listed in the previous section.

The names of the finalists will be announced during the International Division Luncheon at the Annual Meeting. Selection of the winners will be made soon after all finalists have presented their work (either oral or poster) at the respective scientific session as announced in the IFT Annual Meeting Scientific Program.

Awards and Recognition
The first-, second-, and third-place winners receive $700, $500, and $200, respectively. All five finalists will be recognized at the International Division Luncheon and will receive certificates of recognition. The five finalists will also receive a free one-year personal subscription to one of Elsevier’s food science journals.

The primary author will receive complementary one-year membership in the International Division. In the case of a winning paper authored by two or more persons, the Institute of Food Technologists and the organizers of the George F. Stewart International Research Paper Competition, assume no responsibility regarding the manner in which the cash prize is distributed by the coauthors among themselves, except that funds are to be distributed only to authors residing outside the U.S. If the winners cannot be present at the International Division Luncheon where the prizes will be awarded, such prizes will be forwarded to them by IFT.

The accomplishments of Dr. George F. Stewart, the generous contributions of the competition sponsor, and the competition finalists will be recognized at the Phi Tau Sigma reception and Award Ceremony sponsored by the Phi Tau Sigma Honorary Society at the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2009.

Finalists should arrange their travel departure after Wednesday, June 10. The International Division home page will also announce the finalists and include the research abstract and pictures.

Division Competition Winners

2008: Winners | Photos
2007: Winners
2006: Winners