iSPEC Youth Plasma Innovator Award

1. Eligibility

· Age Limit: Applicants must be under 40 years old by the application deadline.

· Field Relevance: Must have significant contributions to plasma science and engineering.

· Career Stage: Early-career scientists, including postdocs, assistant professors, or junior researchers.

2. Application Materials

· Curriculum Vitae (max. 3 pages, including education, career history, publication list, and patents).

· Research Summary (max. 1 page, outlining the applicant’s innovative contributions and future plans in plasma science).

· Two recommendation letters.

3. Evaluation Criteria

·  Innovation (40%): Assess originality and breakthroughs in plasma science theories, methods, or technologies.

· Academic Impact (30%): Evaluate quality, citations, and influence of publications, patents, or conference contributions.

· Contribution and Potential (20%): Consider community contributions and future impact based on career trajectory.

· Recommendation Letters (10%): Require two letters from experts highlighting specific innovations and their significance.

4. Review Process

· Initial Screening: The organizing committee will verify eligibility.

· Expert Review: A panel of at least 5 international plasma experts will score applications based on the criteria.

· Announcement: Winners will be announced during the iSPEC2025 and awarded a certificate.

5. Additional Notes

· Applicants must submit all materials as a single PDF to xiangen.zhao@polyu.edu.hk with the subject line: "iSPEC Youth Plasma Innovator Award Applicant - [Applicant Name]" by 31 October 2025.

· Awardees are required to give a 30-minute plenary speech at iSPEC2025 to share their research.

· Quota: 2 awardees annually; the award may remain unassigned if no suitable candidates are identified.