Celebrating Innovation in Fusarium Head Blight Research

The U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI) is pleased to introduce the USWBSI Excellence Awards, a new recognition program honoring individuals and teams making outstanding contributions to reducing the impact of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) on wheat and barley. These awards celebrate not only scientific innovation but also the spirit of collaboration and advocacy that drives the FHB research community forward.

Award Categories

Outstanding New Investigator Award

Recognizes researchers with up to 7 years of experience as a USWBSI funded PI.
Criteria : Innovative research with high potential for impact, early career accomplishments, and significant contributions to understanding the impact of FHB on wheat and barley.

Collaborative Achievement Award

Open to all multi-institutional or multi-disciplinary teams of researchers and/or stakeholders.
Criteria : Exceptional work in multi-disciplinary or multi-institutional research projects as a team, demonstrating significant advances through collaboration to minimize the threat of FHB.

Innovative Impact Award

Open to all researchers and stakeholders.
Criteria : Demonstrated advocacy and/or outreach that has significantly advanced awareness of and responses to the threat of FHB on wheat and barley, and the production of mycotoxins.
(Up to two awards will be given, one with advocacy focus and one with outreach focus.)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Reserved for researchers or stakeholders with 20+ years of FHB expertise.
Criteria : Long-term contributions to the field, groundbreaking research, influence on the scientific community, or practical applications to minimize the threat of FHB.

Nomination Process

We invite nominations from across the FHB research and stakeholder community, including academia, industry, and governmental/non-governmental organizations. Self-nominations are welcome.

What's Required:

• A completed nomination submission via the online USWBSI Excellence Awards Nomination Form (opening in May 2026)
• Nomination package to include:
  • One-page cover letter from the nominator on the significance of the nomination as it aligns with the criteria for the award.
  • A written biosketch summary of the nominee’s achievements and contiributions, if a team is nominated all team members should be noted along with team impact. (max. 700 words)
  • Comprehensive CV including relevant publications (if applicable) and evidence of impact, if team nominated listing of all team members with brief statement of contributions of team members should be provided.

Deadline to Submit: August 26, 2026
 

Eligibility & Selection

• Researchers from academia, industry, and governmental or non-governmental organizations are eligible.  
• Actively involved stakeholders are eligible for noted awards.
• Only one award will be made per category.
• Individuals may only receive one award per year.
• Group nominations are allowed for applicable categories; all group members will be recognized.
• Awardees are selected by an expert panel appointed by the USWBSI Executive Committee.
• Awards will only be awarded when a nomination meeting the selection criteria is achieved.
• The review committee may opt to deny a nomination or request enhanced submission for future consideration.

Recognition & Ceremony

Awardees will be notified by October 2026 and will be honored at the 2026 National Fusarium Head Blight Forum, held on December 7-9, 2025 in Louisville, KY, during a dedicated ceremony:

MONDAY, December 7, 2026

• 6:30–7:15 PM | Dinner
• 7:15–7:45 PM | Awards Ceremony
• 7:45–8:00 PM | Lifetime Achievement Awardee Presentation

Questions?

For more information, contact:
USWBSI Networking & Facilitation Office at nfo@scabusa.org

Nominate a colleague or team today and help us recognize those advancing FHB research!