by Sarah L. Booth, PhD
President, American Society for Nutrition

At the beginning of my term as President of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), I established several key priorities for the year ahead, with a primary focus on supporting the professional growth and career advancement of mid-career members. Through rich listening sessions with our members, it has become clear that this career stage has unique challenges related to competing professional and personal responsibilities. Our very definition of mid-career members needs to evolve with changing times

Therefore, I am excited to announce several initiatives aimed at supporting seasoned mid-career professionals in the field of nutrition and encouraging their continued engagement within our Society.

Excellence in Nutrition Fellow Recognition Program

First, under the guidance of ASN’s Membership Committee, we are launching the Excellence in Nutrition Fellow Recognition Program. This initiative is designed to recognize professionals who have distinguished themselves through ongoing contributions to the field and sustained engagement in our community.

This new Fellow of ASN (FASN) designation honors outstanding nutrition professionals who are 10 or more years past their terminal degree and have been an ASN Scientist, Clinician or Professional member for 5 or more years. All candidates will have demonstrated significant impact in their career paths, as well as service to the Society.

To accommodate diverse career trajectories, criteria have been developed for research-focused, translational, and mixed career paths, as detailed in Table 1 below.

Applications and nominations are now being accepted through December 9, 2024, for the inaugural class of Excellence in Nutrition Fellows of ASN. Inductees will be honored at NUTRITION 2025, which will take place May 31–June 3, 2025, in Orlando, FL. For detailed application instructions, click here.

ASN Foundation Distinguished Fellows Program

The Distinguished Fellow of ASN (DFASN) program, established in 1952, is the highest honor bestowed by the American Society for Nutrition, recognizing members with notable lifetime achievements in the field. Since its inception, the program has honored more than 500 scientists for their distinguished careers and contributions to nutrition. Beginning with the 2025 class, eligibility criteria will remain largely unchanged, with the exception of the removal of the minimum age requirement. Eligibility is now based on long-term distinguished career accomplishments and service to ASN, rather than reaching a specific numerical age. Apart from replacing the age requirement with a minimum of 30 years of ASN membership, the nomination and selection process for the elevated Distinguished Fellows of ASN remains the same. Applications and nominations are now being accepted through December 9, 2024, for the ASN Class of 2025 Distinguished Nutrition Fellows.  For more information, click here.

ASN Foundation Scientific Achievement Awards

The ASN Foundation’s awards program has a long-standing tradition of honoring scientists, clinicians, and scholars for their significant contributions to nutrition research and practice. This October, we are excited to announce the call for nominations for the 2025 awards, which will be presented at NUTRITION 2025, May 31-June 3, in Orlando, FL.

This year, the award categories have been updated to emphasize achievements over age, creating new opportunities for mid-career scientists to be recognized for their contributions. Categories include:

  • Lifetime Achievement Awards: For established investigators with distinguished careers
  • Investigator and Educator Awards: For investigators who are 10 or more years past their terminal degree
  • Early Career Investigator Awards: For investigators less than 10 years past their terminal degree
  • Fellowship, Scholarships and Funding Opportunities:  For students and early career investigators
  • ASN Journal Research Publishing Awards: For investigators at all career stages

Applications for the ASN Foundation Scientific Achievement Awards are being accepted through December 9, 2024.  Click here for more information and instructions.

These award programs would not be possible without support from the ASN Foundation and numerous donors. Please consider supporting the ASN Foundation.

Join me in identifying outstanding individuals for these prestigious awards so that, together, we can recognize and celebrate the many achievements of ASN members who are advancing our field.

FAQs about ASN Fellows Program
Learn more about ASN Awards

Table 1

Career PathResearchTranslationalCombination
RequiredAt least ten (10) high impact first or senior-authored, peer-reviewed publications of original research  

At least fifteen (15) additional peer-reviewed original research publications or scholarly reviews, perspectives, or editorials in peer-reviewed scholarly journals on nutrition topics.		Demonstrated technical impact for at least 10 years (can be non-consecutive) in advancing nutrition in research, clinical practice, or public programs through one or a combination of the following: 

  • Translating nutrition research in teaching or training.

  • Translating nutrition research into clinical practice.

  • Nutrition research grants or program development and oversight. Technical impact is emphasized rather than general program management administration.

  • Demonstrated impact translating nutrition research into health policies or regulations.

  • Demonstrated impact translating nutrition research in food research programs.

  • Demonstrated impact of adapting nutrition research for implementation regionally or globally for improving public health.
    •      		Individuals with combined experience in both the Research and Translation Pathways are encouraged to apply using a Combination Pathway for consideration, based on their experience in both research and translation. A minimum of 10 years cumulated nutrition research and translation impact applies (e.g., 5 years in a nutrition related research position plus 5 years in nutrition translational positions). The prospective candidate’s credentials would be expected to show first or senior author status on impactful publications as well as translational impact. This allows individuals who have been in a nutrition translational position for less than 10 years to apply if they have substantive high impact research publications.  
    Additional supportOutstanding impact from one or more of the following specifically in the field of nutrition research or translation:

    1. Contributions to ASN’s scientific journal portfolio as an author, reviewer, and/or editorial board member. 

    2. Demonstrated proficiency garnering research funding.

    3. Demonstrated excellence in mentoring.

    4. Recognized excellence or demonstrated contributions above and beyond basic expectations in teaching and training.

    5. Demonstrated impactful evidence-based communications via traditional and non-traditional medium that focus on translating science.

    6. Participation in grant review panels, NIH study sections, governmental or non-governmental advisory boards/committees/task forces, etc.    		Outstanding impact from one or more of the following specifically in the field of nutrition research or translation:

    1. Contributions to ASN’s scientific journal portfolio as an author, reviewer, and/or editorial board member. 

    2. Peer-reviewed original research publications or scholarly reviews, perspectives, or editorials in peer-reviewed scholarly journals on nutrition topics. Impact will be determined by the selection panel as described above for the research paths.

    3. Demonstrated impactful evidence-based communications via traditional and non-traditional medium that focus on translating science.   

    ASN Staff