This Award, commemorating the late Dr. Peter Timpano, is based on student presentations at the OMS meeting. All applicants for the Timpano Award must be members of OMS at the time that they declare themselves as candidates for the Award and must be enrolled in a degree program in an institution of higher learning in Oklahoma.
First Prize: All-expense-paid trip for the first place winner to present a paper or poster on his or her research at the national meeting of the Microscopy Society of America (MSA) or Microbeam Analysis Society (MAS) or another national meeting focusing on microscopy related technologies. The total travel allowance (including MSA or MAS contribution or other funding sources, if any) will be $1,100.00, with all reasonable expenses reimbursed upon presentation of receipts. In addition, a $100.00 cash scholarship to be used toward the student’s research career will be awarded. (If the student is selected as a finalist in the MSA Presidential Student Awards Competition, then MSA will provide registration and airfare, and OMS will provide an additional $200.00 bonus.)
Second Prize: A $100.00 cash scholarship will be awarded to the second place winner for use toward the student’s educational/research expenses. This and the above award are tax exempt if used for educational/research expenses.
The best student paper will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
- Quality of presentation
- Quality of slides and micrographs
- Scientific approach
- Materials and methods
- Value of contribution to scientific knowledge
- Merit of microscopic work
- Quality of submitted abstract
Rules for the Competition: This competition shall be judged by a committee of at least 3 OMS members appointed by the OMS Executive Board; those having a conflict of interest will be excluded. Votes shall be cast by secret-ballot and will be accepted by the Secretary-Treasurer (or designated OMS Officer) after the final competing presentation. (OMS reserves the right to set minimum standards for the best paper and may choose to select a second place winner without selecting a first place winner, at its discretion.)
Conditions of Award: Upon winning first place, the awardee must, by June 30th of the current year, submit a letter of intent or declination regarding attendance at the MSA or MAS meetings or another national meeting focusing on microscopy related technologies. If the awardee notifies OMS that he or she declines to attend the meeting listed above for any reason, a $100 prize will be awarded in lieu of the trip to the meeting, provided that the declination is received within the stated time limit. If the winner declines the first place prize, the second place winner will be offered the opportunity to attend the meeting and present a paper as provided above. A student may compete for the Timpano Award throughout his or her career, but may attend an MAS or MSA meeting or another microscopy related meeting at OMS expense only once. Students winning additional Timpano competitions will receive a $100 cash scholarship.